Overview and Goals
- Launched on April 24, 2025, the Revive Our Ocean initiative aims to scale up community-led Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
- Its core mission: end destructive fishing practices (especially bottom trawling) and empower coastal communities to protect ocean ecosystems.
- Aligns with the 30×30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: protect 30% of oceans by 2030.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)
Geographical Focus
- Initial implementation in seven countries: UK, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico.
- Builds on successful community-led conservation models across these regions.
Need for Community-led MPAs
- Globally, only 3% of oceans are under full protection, despite 16,000+ MPAs being established.
- Many MPAs are poorly managed or permit harmful activities like bottom trawling.
- Community governance leads to better ecological and economic outcomes.
Success Stories
- Medes Island, Spain: €16 million annual revenue from diving tourism vs. low returns from fishing.
- Isle of Arran, Scotland: Marine biodiversity doubled after establishing no-fishing zones.
- RARE’s Fish Forever (Philippines): 2,000+ communities created zones where fish stocks doubled in 5 years.
- Coastal 500 network: 350+ local leaders advocating marine protection and policy reforms.
Key Barriers Identified
- Lack of awareness about community benefits of MPAs.
- Restrictive national policies that limit local authority.
- Limited access to tools, funding, and capacity-building.
Revive Our Ocean Collective
- A support network bringing together proven local leaders and conservation practitioners.
- Focuses on knowledge-sharing, policy advocacy, and training.
- Led by Kristin Rechberger (Dynamic Planet) and Enric Sala (Pristine Seas, National Geographic).
Financing and Sustainability
- Plans to launch a microfinance program for community-led MPAs.
- Aims to prove that MPAs are financially self-sustaining: via tourism, sustainable fishing, and carbon capture.
- Example: Spain’s reserve costs €2 million annually but yields €16 million in returns.
Environmental and Climate Benefits
- MPAs restore biodiversity, improve fisheries, and enhance food security.
- Capture carbon and help mitigate climate change.
- Combat practices like bottom trawling, which causes €11 billion losses/year in Europe and disturbs oceanic carbon beds.
