The Ocean Commonwealth: a sustainable future through marine protected areas

The ocean is the most precious and life-giving, yet undervalued and exploited, natural wonder of our planet. Overfishing, pollution and climate change are destroying marine biodiversity and threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.

All 56 member countries of the Commonwealth have been adversely affected by climate change and the degradation of our ocean, but the most injurious effect has been on our small-island developing states.

Two-thirds of these states are within the Commonwealth. They are on the frontline of our ocean and climate crises. For them, these crises are truly existential. With so many countries dependent on the ocean’s resources, it is vital to set aside areas in Commonwealth waters that are legally protected and reserved for conservation purposes.

The Commonwealth encompasses around 36% of the world’s seas under national jurisdiction and is home to about half of our planet’s tropical coral reefs. These marine hotspots of biodiversity are under relentless and increasing pressure. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are crucial for a sustainable ocean economy, and to ensure that ocean resources are not exploited destructively but given the opportunity to flourish.

The Commonwealth’s capacity to convene governments and reach into professional networks enables us to support country-led action for a healthy ocean. Under the Commonwealth Blue Charter, an agreement and cooperative initiative of Commonwealth governments to work together on ocean conservation and sustainability, MPAs are championed through a dedicated action group, led by Barbados and Seychelles.

Indeed, Seychelles achieved the global target of protecting 30% of its waters a decade early, in 2020, and with help from the Commonwealth Secretariat has been implementing a sustainable blue economy roadmap to guide sustainable use of its ocean resources. In 2023, blue whales returned to Seychelles waters for the first time in decades, demonstrating the effectiveness of its approach.

Other Commonwealth success stories are equally diverse and inspiring. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia, despite facing significant threats from climate change and coral bleaching, has benefited from concerted conservation efforts, including innovative coral restoration projects and strict fishing regulations.

Many more Commonwealth governments have made commendable progress towards achieving Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030. Australia, Gabon, New Zealand, Maldives and the United Kingdom are among the front runners in this race against time and tide. Other notable examples include Niue, which has safeguarded 40% of its Exclusive Economic Zone—the area of the sea over which it has exclusive rights to exploration and use of marine resources. Canada plans to expand its protected waters, from 15% to 30%, with a noteworthy leadership role played by its First Nations. Dominica's new Sperm Whale Reserve—a world first—and Fiji's ongoing Marine Spatial Planning to protect 30% of its Exclusive Economic Zone illustrate the Commonwealth member countries’ broad commitment to oceanic stewardship.

The journey does not end with the establishment of MPAs. The challenges in managing these conservation zones are complex and range from ensuring compliance with fishing restrictions to balancing the needs of local communities. In many cases, the lack of adequate funding and technical resources further hampers efforts. Effective management often requires sophisticated monitoring systems and international cooperation, particularly in vast and remote areas of sea.

Economist Impact's research on MPAs and the development of a public digital hub is timely and welcome. Collaboration, which includes community and Indigenous participation, is essential for ensuring that MPAs are more than lines on a map but are living, breathing spaces where conservation and community interests converge.

The October 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to take place in the Pacific Island country of Samoa, promises to place the ocean front and centre of the agenda with a Commonwealth Ocean Declaration expected to underscore the multifaceted value of MPAs. This proposed declaration will likely reinforce the importance of these conservation zones, not just as a numerical target but as a cornerstone of a broader strategy of ecological, social and economic resilience.

By bringing countries and partner organisations together, the Commonwealth is bridging the gap between the establishment of MPAs and their ongoing financing and management. This cooperation can guide the ocean community towards a future where marine conservation is not just a mandate but a shared responsibility of stewardship, and a collective triumph.

The Commonwealth's approach to MPAs is emblematic of our commitment to collaboration and resilience, and raises our hopes for a future in which our ocean is not just protected but thrives as a home for rich biodiversity and as a source of sustainable human development.

This article is also published on Economist Impact. illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.