What ocean wins did conservationists celebrate in 2025?
After decades of effort, the ocean got some major victories - including a landmark treaty.
The answer
2025 marked several significant ocean conservation wins. Progress continued on ratifying the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement), which aims to protect marine biodiversity in international waters covering nearly two-thirds of the ocean. Several countries expanded marine protected areas, with new no-take zones established in critical habitats for endangered species. Deep-sea coral reefs received increased protection in multiple jurisdictions following new evidence of their role as biodiversity hotspots. Additionally, international negotiations advanced restrictions on bottom trawling - one of the most destructive fishing practices - in sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. While challenges remain immense, ocean conservationists described 2025 as a year of tangible progress after decades of advocacy.
Source: Ocean Generation
- ocean-conservation
- marine-protected-areas
- treaty
- sustainability
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