Ocean actions — January 2025

Conservation momentum is building across direct action, science, and law. The last thirty days saw major fishing bans advance in the UK and Scotland, thousands of illegal traps removed from the Mediterranean, and the BBNJ high-seas treaty pass the one-third ratification milestone. From Antarctic ecosystems discovered beneath detached icebergs to new marine protected areas off Tanzania and French Polynesia, the movement is translating pressure into measurable protection.

UK bottom-trawling ban in 41 MPAs Government commits to protect 30,000 km² of seabed After years of Greenpeace boulder-barrier direct action and grassroots pressure, the UK government announced plans to ban destructive bottom trawling in parts of 41 Marine Protected Areas, covering more than 30,[adresse] of seabed. While not a total ban—trawling remains allowed in over 90% of UK MPAs—this represents the UK's strongest action yet to protect underwater habitats, seagrass meadows, and small-scale fishing communities from industrial gear.

Scotland's 100,000 km² fishing exclusion Oceana-backed protections shield critical habitats from destructive gear Scotland extended protections across more than 100,[adresse] of ocean, banning destructive bottom-contact fishing methods in key conservation zones. The move, supported by Oceana and local fishing advocates, shields cold-water coral gardens, seagrass beds, and benthic habitats vital to biodiversity recovery—addressing overfishing and habitat destruction threats simultaneously.

BBNJ Treaty reaches 21 ratifications South Korea's ratification pushes high-seas protection past the one-third mark On March 19, 2025, South Korea became the 21st nation to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), marking the one-third milestone toward the 60 ratifications needed to bring the treaty into force. Once active, the BBNJ will enable creation of marine protected areas in international waters, regulate deep-sea mining, and establish benefit-sharing frameworks for marine genetic resources—filling the largest legal gap in ocean governance.

Sea Shepherd — Greece octopus-trap operation 4,650 traps removed in first four days of 75-day Greece campaign July 4, 2025 (campaign launch) — The MV Sea Eagle launched a 75-day operation in northern Greece's Thracian Sea to remove tens of thousands of illegal octopus traps that are decimating octopus populations. Working alongside the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Greek Association of Ichthyologists, the crew hauled 4,650 traps in the first four days. The campaign replicates Sea Shepherd's 2022 Italy success, where a record 7,672 traps were removed in one season, forcing poacher compliance and triggering an octopus population rebound.

Sea Shepherd — Mediterranean driftnet seizure 10-kilometre illegal net confiscated in joint Coast Guard operation June 2, 2025 — Sea Shepherd Italy launched its eighth Mediterranean campaign (Operation Siso) with a major illegal-gear bust: a 10-kilometre drifting net retrieved in a joint operation with the Italian Coast Guard, coordinated by the Catania Coast Guard and the National Fisheries Control Center in Rome. Driftnets—banned since 2002 under EU law—kill indiscriminately and were the trigger for Sea Shepherd's Mediterranean focus after a sperm whale died in one in 2018.

Greenpeace — UK boulder barrier legacy Five years of direct seabed protection culminates in government policy shift June 14, 2025 — Greenpeace UK declared victory after the government's MPA trawling-ban announcement, crediting five years of direct action that saw activists place boulder barriers on the seabed to physically block trawlers. The campaign included two separate boulder drops, petition drives with hundreds of thousands of signatures, MP lobbying, and street demonstrations—demonstrating that sustained pressure translates into policy.

The Ocean Cleanup — 30 Cities Program launched Plan targets one-third reduction in river plastic entering oceans by 2030 June 12, 2025 (UN Ocean Conference, Nice) — The Ocean Cleanup announced its 30 Cities Program to deploy Interceptor™ river-cleanup systems across 30 key cities in Asia and the Americas. The initiative aims to eliminate up to one-third of all plastic flowing from rivers into the ocean before 2030. To date, The Ocean Cleanup has prevented over 29 million kilograms of trash from reaching the ocean and currently intercepts an estimated 1–3% of global river plastic.

Antarctic ecosystem discovered beneath detached iceberg Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition explores seafloor exposed by A-84 calving January 25, 2025 (Bellingshausen Sea) — An international team aboard the R/V Falkor (too) became the first humans to survey seafloor newly exposed when iceberg A-84 (the size of Chicago) broke from Antarctica's George VI Ice Shelf on January 13. At 230 metres deep, scientists found thriving communities of ancient sponges, coral, and anemones—evidence that ecosystems persisted under the ice for decades, possibly centuries. The discovery provides baseline data on Antarctic biodiversity as ice-shelf collapse accelerates.

New coral gardens and hydrothermal vents mapped in South Sandwich Islands Ocean Census expedition discovers suspected new species in Southern Ocean's deepest trench 2025 (exact date TBC) — An Ocean Census Flagship expedition and GoSouth science team explored the South Sandwich Islands' remote depths, discovering suspected new species, coral gardens, and one of the shallowest hydrothermal vents in the island chain. The team also surveyed the deepest trench in the Southern Ocean, expanding knowledge of Southern Ocean biodiversity hotspots and providing critical data for MPA planning.

Costa Rica coral-garden project shows reef recovery Tortuga Island initiative reports measurable revival of bleached ecosystems August 2024–April 2025 — A collaborative coral-garden restoration project on Tortuga Island, Gulf of Nicoya, is reviving reefs devastated by bleaching and human impacts. Launched in August 2024 by local institutions and communities, the initiative has achieved measurable ecosystem recovery within nine months—offering a scalable model for coral restoration amid the global bleaching crisis.

Deep-sea coral restoration pilots in Gulf of Mexico US pioneers large-scale restoration of corals damaged by Deepwater Horizon spill May 2025 — Scientists launched a pioneering large-scale deep-sea coral restoration effort in the Gulf of Mexico, targeting 1,[adresse] ([adresse]) damaged by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The project represents the first attempt at industrial-scale restoration of deep-water corals, which grow slowly and provide critical habitat for commercially important fish species.

Tanzania establishes two new MPAs off Pemba Island 1,300+ km² of coral reef and seagrass protected under community-driven plan June 10, 2025 (UN Ocean Conference, Nice) — Tanzania's Zanzibar fisheries minister announced the creation of two new marine protected areas—the North-East Pemba Conservation Area and the South-East Pemba Conservation Area—covering more than 1,[adresse] off Pemba Island's eastern coast. The MPAs, designed with community input and science-based governance, protect critical coral reefs, seagrass beds, and vulnerable species while enhancing coastal community resilience.

French Polynesia announces world's largest MPA New designation expands Pacific Ocean protection zone 2025 (date TBC) — French Polynesia unveiled plans for the world's largest marine protected area, significantly expanding ocean protection in the Pacific. Final area and regulations are being formalized, but the announcement signals French Polynesia's commitment to 30×30 ocean-protection targets and leadership in high-seas conservation.

Malaysia adopts first National Plan for Marine Mammal Conservation 2026–2035 strategy coordinates protection for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and dugongs December 10, 2024 (workshop held in Kota Kinabalu) — Malaysia's Department of Fisheries and Marine Research Foundation launched the country's first National Plan of Action for Marine Mammal Conservation (2026–2035), bringing federal and state agencies, enforcement bodies, researchers, and NGOs into a coordinated strategy. The plan prioritizes research and monitoring, habitat protection and restoration, mitigation of bycatch and entanglement, and strengthened data sharing.

Cook Islands proposes Dynamic Ocean Protection Zone for whales World-first adaptive sanctuary adjusts boundaries to track whale movements June 13, 2025 — Prime Minister Mark Brown announced the Cook Islands' intention to establish Ra'ui To'ora, a Dynamic Ocean Protection Zone for whales—the first sanctuary to use satellite tracking and oceanographic data to adjust protection boundaries in real time, following migrating whale populations. If implemented, the system could become a model for adaptive marine spatial planning.

Canada fines charter operators for threatened rockfish harvest British Columbia case results in convictions under Species at Risk Act January 16, 2025 (Sechelt Provincial Court) — Rainbow Covenant Fishing Yacht Charter Ltd. (formerly Mctec Fishing Charters) and two guides, Jonathan Li and Guang Yi Xu, were found guilty of catching and retaining Yelloweye Rockfish during closed season and fishing with illegal crab traps. Yelloweye Rockfish are listed as Species of Special Concern under Canada's Species at Risk Act, and rockfish conservation areas have been enforced since 2007.

South Africa expands fishing closures around African penguin colonies Pretoria High Court settlement protects endangered seabird breeding sites 2025 (exact date TBC) — A Pretoria High Court settlement finalized expanded fishing closures around African penguin breeding colonies, restricting commercial fishing near nesting sites to reduce competition for food. The ruling, a conservation-enforcement action linked to seabird-protection efforts, addresses the collapse of small-pelagic fish stocks that penguins depend on.

WTO fisheries-subsidy agreement nears enforcement threshold 89 of 111 required ratifications secured for harmful-subsidy elimination As of early 2025 — The WTO's "Fish One" agreement, targeting harmful subsidies linked to IUU fishing, overfishing, and unregulated high-seas fishing, has secured 89 member ratifications, with 111 needed for entry into force. Once active, the agreement will curtail government subsidies that enable destructive industrial fishing, a long-sought policy tool to address overfishing.

seashepherd.org seashepherdglobal.org greenpeace.org.uk oceana.org news.mongabay.com schmidtocean.org schmidtocean.org unsw.edu.au chinaus-icas.org canada.ca theborneopost.com pmoffice.gov.ck theoceancleanup.com ticotimes.net news.mongabay.com surfrider.org