Ocean enthusiasts and conservationists will be happy to know that MPA (Marine Protected Areas) Day will now receive United Nations endorsement.

Launched in South Africa on August 1, 2021, MPA Day has aimed to drive awareness of these areas dedicated to ocean and planetary health.

MPAs are ecologically significant areas that protect vulnerable marine ecosystems, habitats and species, while supporting the people who depend on them. In the mid-South Coast area, the Aliwal Shoal is known as one of the most interesting in the country.

This year, MPA Day will form part of the Ocean Decade as an activity under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

“When we launched MPA Day six years ago, our goal was simply to help more people understand why MPAs matter,” said Dr Judy Mann-Lang, founder of MPA Day.

“We knew that if people could connect with the ocean and with each other, they would more fully appreciate the value of the ocean and how together we can actively care for it. To now have that vision recognised through a United Nations endorsement is an incredible honour. It validates the importance of the collective work being done to protect our ocean and highlights the critical role MPAs play in securing a healthy future for our planet.”

Mann-Lang explained that the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development was established to support transformative action for a healthy and sustainable ocean.

The endorsement also enables greater global visibility through Ocean Decade communication platforms and aligns MPA Day with a worldwide network of initiatives working towards a more sustainable relationship with the ocean.

With MPA Day just around the corner, people are encouraged to appreciate and advocate for MPAs through educational talks, beach clean-ups, guided walks, sporting events, citizen science activities, art projects, social media campaigns, school programmes and ocean experiences.

Following record participation in recent years, organisers expect MPA Day 2026 to attract even greater international involvement as the movement continues to grow.

“What began as a simple idea to raise awareness about MPAs has quickly evolved into a worldwide movement celebrated across continents,” added Mann-Lang.

“The United Nations endorsement marks a major milestone in this journey, recognising MPA Day’s contribution to conservation awareness and community engagement.”

DID YOU KNOW:
MPAs deliver significant benefits, including:
• Protecting breeding, nursery and feeding grounds for marine species
• Supporting sustainable fisheries and food security
• Increasing resilience to climate change and environmental pressures
• Safeguarding vulnerable and threatened marine species
• Supporting tourism, recreation and coastal livelihoods
• Providing opportunities for scientific research, education and citizen science

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