Our oceans are facing unprecedented pressure. Climate change, overfishing, and pollution are driving marine ecosystems toward crisis, yet there is hope, and it begins with safeguarding the ocean’s most important places. In just five years, Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day, celebrated on Friday, 1 August, has grown remarkably. The 2025 celebration has become the most influential one to date. 

Under this year’s theme, “Ocean Protection Needs Human Connection,” MPA Day 2025 focused on strengthening people’s relationship with the ocean and raising global awareness about conservation. 

In 2024, around 40 events across 12 countries joined the movement. This year, the number more than doubled with  31 countries and over 100 events united in calling for the protection of the ocean’s most vital spaces. 

MPA Day aligns with global goals, including the 30×30 initiative, protecting 30% of land, freshwater, and ocean by 2030, and the UN Ocean Decade Challenges. Although there are more than 5,000 MPAs worldwide, only a little over 3% of the ocean is effectively protected. South Africa contributes 41 MPAs along its mainland coast. 

According to the MPA Day Committee, the 2025 highlights include: 

• 800+ km covered in the #Run4MPAs Strava Challenge 
• 120+ global partners collaborating 
• 104 events recorded 
• 31 countries participating 
• 22 Mission Blue Hope Spots involved

People from all walks of life took part, school groups, rangers, communities, artists, scientists, and athletes, all coming together to support MPAs. 

Activities ranged widely, including shoreline walks, boat trips, clean-ups, shore explorations, classroom sessions, film screenings, storytelling, snorkelling and dives, art and photography competitions, virtual tours, webinars, TV and radio features, new interactive maps, seaweed tasting, mangrove planting, and more. 

Nationally, MPA Day was also integrated into the second Ocean Academy training, with a full day dedicated to MPA awareness. IOI-SA also played a key role in the Cape Town public event on Friday, 1 August, contributing to a virtual tour showcasing South Africa’s MPAs. Scientists, storytellers, and conservationists presented 10-minute insights from MPAs across the country. 

Kirshia Govender, IOI-SA Programme Manager, featured the Table Mountain National Park MPA, sharing the unique marine life found along the rocky shores of Sea Point. 

Key takeaways from the virtual tour included:

● Why MPAs are essential safe havens for marine species 
● How ocean health influences daily human life 
● Actions everyone can take to help protect these vital blue spaces 

Together, these efforts show that when people unite around the ocean, real change becomes possible, reminding us that protecting our blue planet starts with each of us.