Marine Protected Areas and Fish Welfare

Marine protected areas restrict fishing and other extractive activities, benefiting fish welfare alongside biodiversity conservation in ocean ecosystems.

Key Facts

Approximately 8 percent of the global ocean is designated as marine protected area but only 2.7 percent is fully protected
Fully protected no-take MPAs show significantly higher fish biomass and species diversity than fished areas
The 30x30 initiative aims to protect 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030
MPAs must be well-enforced to be effective — paper parks with nominal protection provide limited benefit
Marine reserves off the coast of New Zealand have recovered fish populations to near-pristine levels in under a decade
Fish in well-managed MPAs experience lower stress from fishing disturbance and predation-related fear

Welfare Considerations

Marine protected areas benefit fish welfare by reducing the stress of fishing disturbance, trawl impacts on habitat, and bycatch mortality. Fish living in protected areas can express natural behaviours without the repeated trauma of nets and fishing gear. Advocates should support ambitious MPA targets and push for strong enforcement that delivers genuine protection rather than nominal designation.

What You Can Do

Support the 30x30 global ocean protection target through advocacy and donations
Advocate for strong enforcement of existing MPAs to prevent illegal fishing
Choose seafood from certified sustainable fisheries that operate in well-managed ocean areas
Engage with coastal planning processes to support new MPA designations
Support conservation organisations working on ocean protection including ClientEarth and Oceana