Asia steps up regional push for large-scale ocean protection

Insider Spotlight

• Asia convenes governments, scientists, and NGOs in Iloilo to accelerate ocean protection
• Workshop builds momentum for regional collaboration toward the 30x30 goal
• Philippine Rise proposal emerges as one of Asia’s boldest large-scale conservation efforts
  

The race to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030 took center stage in Iloilo City as the Philippines hosted the Asia Regional Large-Scale Marine Protected Area Workshop, gathering leaders from seven countries to push for science-based and community-driven marine conservation.

Why it matters

The workshop, organized by Zoological Society of London - Philippines (ZSL) with the Blue Nature Alliance and Big Ocean, underscores Asia’s growing role in large-scale marine protection, especially as climate pressures and illegal fishing intensify across the region.

What they’re saying

“With the highest nearshore marine biodiversity in the world, Asia has long been at the forefront of coastal protection,” said Laure Katz, executive director of the Alliance, in a press release.  She emphasized the urgency of expanding protection beyond 12 nautical miles and strengthening science-policy-community links.

The Alliance works with more than 130 partners worldwide to advance protections across 5 percent of the global ocean, contributing directly to the 30x30 target.

Driving the collaboration

Participants from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Vietnam, and the Solomon Islands identified shared threats including pollution, climate change, illegal and unregulated fishing, and habitat loss. 

Their recommendations focused on aligning conservation with food security, harmonizing ocean policies, securing long-term financing, and deepening public engagement.

“The potential for Asia is huge. It can be a trailblazer, creating a ‘Big Ocean 2.0,’ leading the second wave of large-scale protection,” said Naiʻa Lewis, director of Big Ocean.

Zoom in: Philippine Rise

One of the most ambitious initiatives discussed was the proposed Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area, a ZSL-led effort with the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Fisheries Management Area 1, and the Alliance. 

The plan would protect roughly 150,000 square kilometers—about 7.5 percent of Philippine waters—making it Asia’s largest single marine protected area.

“The thinking around marine protected areas has long been at a much smaller scale,” said Edwina Garchitorena, ZSL Philippines country director. “We know the challenges remain… but we also know the impact will be there.”

What’s next

Katz described the workshop as “the beginning of a meaningful journey,” with partners committed to strengthening governance and mobilizing collective action to help meet the global 30x30 goal. —Ramon C. Nocon | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma