The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has announced a major new commitment to establish the first generation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters, combining scientific expertise, policy advocacy, and global partnerships to push ocean conservation to an unprecedented scale.
As part of its pledge, TNC will collaborate with governments and partners to advance up to five high seas MPA proposals by 2030, ensuring each is rooted in rigorous science, built for lasting effectiveness, and compatible with existing ocean governance structures. The organization is also calling on governments worldwide to accelerate ratification of the High Seas Treaty and mobilize greater financing to move from promise to practice.
The stakes are significant. The high seas cover nearly two-thirds of the world’s ocean surface and are vital to biodiversity, climate stability, and global food systems — yet they remain among the least protected environments on the planet.
Speaking at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, TNC leaders emphasized that Africa has a central role to play in driving progress. Regional Managing Director Ademola Ajagbe noted that the High Seas Treaty now provides a clear pathway for action, and that translating that agreement into real, lasting protection will require African leadership.
Beyond proposing new protected areas, TNC intends to build the underlying infrastructure for long-term success, including financing mechanisms, monitoring systems, compliance frameworks, and marine spatial planning tools.