The ocean has long been treated as the world’s forgotten frontier — out of sight, out of mind, and dangerously overused. Yet efforts to reverse decades of neglect are gaining momentum. Late April saw the launch of Revive Our Ocean, a new initiative helping coastal communities create marine protected areas (MPAs) to restore marine life and local economies.
Led by Dynamic Planet with support from National Geographic’s Pristine Seas initiative, the effort comes at a pivotal moment. In 2023, countries agreed a historic treaty to safeguard ocean biodiversity. But of the 100-plus nations that signed, only 21 have ratified it, with major backers like the U.S. notably absent. With a 2030 deadline looming to protect 30% of the oceans, Revive Our Ocean’s founders argue that waiting for governments will not be enough.
“We’ve seen that marine protection works,” says Kristin Rechberger, founder of Dynamic Planet and a Mongabay board member, in an interview in April. “But progress has been far too slow. To meet 30×30, we would need over 190,000 new protected areas. That’s why we’re focusing on communities — those who know their waters best.”
Rechberger’s optimism is based on experience. Over the past decade, Dynamic Planet and Pristine Seas have helped establish 29 of the world’s largest marine reserves, covering nearly 7 million square kilometers (2.7 million square miles), mostly offshore. Now the focus is shifting closer to shore, where coastal populations depend on healthy seas for their livelihoods.
Revive Our Ocean aims to equip communities with the tools, policy support and training needed to establish local MPAs. It blends lessons from past successes with the realities of coastal life.
Marine protection near coasts faces three barriers, Rechberger explains: awareness, policy, and know-how.
In many places, local governments lack the authority to create MPAs. Even where laws permit it, communities often lack resources or incentives to act. Revive Our Ocean seeks to change that by providing practical support and advocacy, making marine reserves as common as public parks.
The economic case is strong. A small MPA can generate significant returns. Spain’s Medes Islands Marine Reserve — just 1 square kilometer (0.39 square miles) — generates 16 million euros ($17.6 million) a year in tourism revenue, far surpassing local fishing income. In parts of Mexico, dive tourism now rivals the fishing industry in value.
Conservation and economic growth are no longer seen as opposing forces. Reviving marine life can, in fact, revive entire communities.
“It’s thrilling,” Rechberger says. “Protection drives benefits across multiple sectors, while restoring ecosystems.”
Still, the clock is ticking. Only about 8% of the ocean is under some form of protection, and just 3% is fully protected.
Revive Our Ocean’s bet: by empowering communities and sharing success stories, marine conservation can catch fire from the ground up.
Read the full interview with Kristin Rechberger here.
Banner image: Split shot in the waters of San Benedicto, Mexico. Image courtesy of Enric Sala/National Geographic Pristine Seas.
