Earth Day 2026: Five Ocean Conservation Wins Mark 'Historic Year' for Marine Protection

On Earth Day 2026 (April 22), conservation groups celebrated a series of ocean protection milestones achieved over the preceding year. The Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted five major achievements: the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies entering into force in September 2025 (the first binding international agreement targeting harmful fishing subsidies); the BBNJ High Seas Treaty becoming binding international law on January 17, 2026; Australia's national ocean protection commitment to safeguard 30% of its ocean territory in highly protected marine sanctuaries by 2030; the recovery of green turtle populations from near-extinction to 'least concern' status; and global ocean protection crossing 10% for the first time. Environmental advocates noted that while progress has been unprecedented — driven by Portugal and Chile implementing substantial new MPAs — the pace must tripled to reach the Kunming-Montreal 30x30 target by 2030.