How the Global Push for Protected Areas Can Benefit the Oceans’ Most Endangered Species

With global marine conservation efforts focusing on turning the promise of “30x30” — protecting 30 percent of both marine and terrestrial areas by 2030 — into reality, how do we ensure that new area-based protections work for the species that are closest to extinction? A recently launched programme, known as the <a href="https://www.sharkconservationfund.org/press-release-march-1-2023/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Shark Biodiversity Initiative</a>, looks to fill that gap and ensure that as marine protected areas (MPAs) are established or refined around the world to meet these new global targets, they don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Specifically, a priority is to ensure that the world’s most threatened group of marine animals — sharks and rays — fully benefits from these new protected areas. For that to happen, the areas need to be designed with these ancient predators in mind. <a href="https://medium.com/wcs-marine-conservation-program/how-the-global-push-for-protected-areas-can-benefit-the-oceans-most-endangered-species-f81e0c4936fb">Read More</a>