Leading Philanthropies Commit $51.7 Million to Accelerate the Creation of Marine Protected Areas in The High Seas

Arcadia, Becht Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Action Fund, Blue Nature Alliance, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Oceans 5, Paul M Angell Family Foundation, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and Vere Initiatives announce largest private philanthropic high seas funding commitment to date  

Announced on COP16’s Finance Day, the pledge highlights the critical role of protecting the high seas to achieve 30×30 for the ocean, the cornerstone commitment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Cali, Colombia – Today at the COP16 UN Biodiversity Conference in Colombia, Arcadia, Becht Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Action Fund, Blue Nature Alliance, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Oceans 5, Paul M Angell Family Foundation, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and Vere Initiatives announced a $51.7 million pledge to accelerate the development of high-quality Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the high seas.

The new funding – the largest high seas commitment to date from private philanthropy – will also support building international consensus on the governance processes necessary to ensure the rapid adoption of high seas MPAs under the High Seas Treaty.

Announced on COP16’s Finance Day, the pledge sends a clear signal that action to develop proposals to establish and implement high-quality protected areas in the high seas, the two-thirds of the world’s ocean found outside of nation’s waters, needs to start immediately if we are to make meaningful progress towards the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 (30×30). [1]

“The creation of marine protected areas in the high seas is essential for preserving the ocean’s health and ability to act as a climate ally,” said Melissa Wright, who leads the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This joint funding pledge aims to kickstart the development of proposals for high seas MPAs and prepare the Treaty for their earliest adoption. With less than 2% of the high seas currently protected, action cannot wait.”

Adopted in June 2023, the High Seas Treaty fills a key gap in international governance by establishing a mechanism for governments to establish MPAs in the high seas. The rapid creation of high seas MPAs is critical to reaching the 30×30 goal in the ocean.

The new philanthropic funding, announced on the sidelines of COP16 [2], will help kickstart the work needed to accelerate high seas MPAs, with a focus on supporting Global South leadership, ambitions, and priorities.

Newly-announced initiatives that the pledge will complement include:

• A BBNJ First Movers government collaborative, announced last month, led by Chile and supported by Palau, the United States, and Canada, committing to fast-track the creation of the first set of MPAs under the new High Seas Treaty, focusing on priority biodiversity hotspots.
• A non-governmental organization-led “accelerator,” providing technical, scientific, and stakeholder engagement in partnership with governments to advance high seas MPA proposals.

“This week, the international community has signaled its support to advance a portfolio of high seas marine protected areas to be considered by the first COP of BBNJ as a contribution to CBD’s 30×30 target. And now, today, we have a major donor commitment to help realize these protections. Momentum to protect the high seas is growing, we must grab this moment to deliver on the urgent need to protect as much as the ocean as possible to safeguard the planet against the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss,” said HE Maisa Rojas, Environment Minister, Government of Chile.

The funding will also support capacity-building initiatives, emphasizing Indigenous participation, financial mechanisms, and scientific analysis to identify key areas for protection.

“Protecting the high seas takes more than designating new boundaries – it requires strong governance and effective management to ensure lasting impact,” said Patricia Leon, Associate Director for Nature Conservation at the Bezos Earth Fund.  “As part of our commitment to the global 30×30 goal, the Bezos Earth Fund is supporting leaders in regions like the Blue Pacific Continent and Eastern Tropical Pacific to advance protections that are practical, enduring, and grounded in regional expertise.”

“Much like their land-based counterparts, marine protected areas are essential to a healthy planet,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder and president of the Schmidt Family Foundation and the Schmidt Ocean Institute. “An ocean that is free from pollution, overfishing, mining and other threats is an ocean that can sustain us with protein, clean air and the ongoing promise of untold discoveries, from medicine to the secrets of how life began. Schmidt Ocean Institute is pleased to provide ship time on our research vessel so that scientists can continue to explore and discover all our ocean holds.”

“Protecting and restoring our planet’s biodiversity through marine conservation is central to our foundation’s mission, and safeguarding the high seas is critical to achieving the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030,” said Ann and Bart Becht, Founders of Becht Foundation. “With less than 2% of these international waters currently protected, this pledge will help accelerate the establishment of marine protected areas, ensuring that we preserve the ocean’s biodiversity for future generations.”

“Protecting the high seas is especially vital for countries in the Global South, as these waters are a shared lifeline that sustains biodiversity, supports livelihoods, and helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.” said Markus Knigge, Executive Director of Blue Action Fund. “With many of these nations relying heavily on ocean resources for food security, economic development, and cultural heritage, safeguarding the high seas ensures equitable access to their benefits and preserves them for future generations.”

“We cannot protect 30% of the global ocean by 2030 without action on the high seas. The global community must unite to unlock the full potential of high seas protections and accelerate efforts to safeguard critical marine ecosystems for both nature and people. The Blue Nature Alliance is committed to catalyzing these efforts with ever-expanding local, regional, and global partnerships that currently cover nearly 25 million km2 across all five ocean basins, including the high seas,” said Grace Reville, Blue Nature Alliance Regional Lead (United States & High Seas).

“In a world facing growing impacts from climate change, protecting our high seas is an essential way to bolster the resilience of marine ecosystems and the communities that depend upon them,” said Aileen Lee, Chief of Programs, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Today’s announcement builds on the $5 million pledged by Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Blue Nature Alliance, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, OceanKind, Oceans 5, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Vere Initiatives, and others in 2023 to support the early adoption of the High Seas Treaty and help developing countries join the global effort to protect the high seas. To date, this group has since deployed over $10 million to non-governmental organizations working in different regions and globally, with the impact of these commitments already building momentum. As of today, 14 countries have ratified the treaty and 105  nations have signed their intent to do so. 60 ratifications are required for the Treaty to enter into force.

The high seas comprise nearly two-thirds of the ocean’s area and represent 95% of the habitable space, by volume, on our planet. Alongside playing a key role for many important species of sharks, tuna, and whales, it helps regulate the global climate and supports billions of people around the world who depend on a healthy ocean.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

[1] The global target of protecting and conserving at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 (30×30) was adopted within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity at the conclusion of the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022.

[2] The announcement will be made at Raising Ambition and Accelerating Action to Protect the High Seas Biodiversity, a high level event organized by the Governments of Chile, Costa Rica, Belgium, France, and Nigeria, in partnership with Bloomberg Ocean Initiative, NRDC, the High Seas Alliance and Mission Blue. Watch the event livestream here.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies: 
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion. For more information, please visit  bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

About Bloomberg Ocean Initiative:
The Bloomberg Ocean Initiative is Bloomberg Philanthropies’ effort to protect the world’s ocean from climate change, overfishing, and pollution threats. Since 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies has invested over $366 million to restore and protect critical ocean ecosystems to support the global goal of protecting 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. The Bloomberg Ocean Initiative supports local and global partners in advocating for data-driven solutions, community involvement, and policy change that can help safeguard marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, and the billions of people who depend on them. To date, these efforts have helped pass over 100 new policies at the local and national level that have strengthened the protection of 10.8 million square miles of ocean – nearly three times the area of the United States. Learn more here.

Media Contact:
Marshall Cohen, mcohen@bloomberg.org, +1-646-819-2611

About Arcadia:
Arcadia helps people to record cultural heritage, to conserve and restore nature, and to promote open access to knowledge. Since 2002 Arcadia has awarded more than $1.2 billion to organizations around the world. Arcadia is contributing to this pledge through an existing commitment to the Joint 30×30 Funding Initiative. Learn more at https://www.arcadiafund.org.uk/ and https://www.oceans5.org/joint-30×30-funding-initiative/

About Becht Foundation:
Established by Ann and Bart Becht in 2006, Becht Foundation is a UK-based global funder dedicated to protecting and restoring our planet’s biodiversity through marine conservation and climate communications. Recognising the ocean as an underfunded yet vital source of resilience against biodiversity loss and climate change, the foundation supports efforts to create marine protected areas, combat overfishing, and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. Becht Foundation also funds data-driven campaigns to shift the narrative on climate change and build public support for climate action. Learn more at bechtfoundation.org.

About the Bezos Earth Fund:
The Bezos Earth Fund is helping transform the fight against climate change with the largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature protection. Jeff Bezos has committed $10 billion in this decisive decade to protect nature and address climate change. By providing funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a world where people prosper in harmony with nature. Learn more at bezosearthfund.org.

About Blue Action Fund:
Launched in 2017 as a voluntary contribution to the United Nations Ocean Conference, Blue Action Fund’s key focus is to contribute to protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030 in line with Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Through open calls for proposals – funded by governmental partners from Germany, France, Sweden, Norway and Ireland, as well as the Green Climate Fund – Blue Action Fund supports NGOs in the Global South to work on the establishment or better management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), in addition to enhancing livelihood conditions in adjacent coastal communities. Learn more at www.blueactionfund.org

About Blue Nature Alliance:
The Blue Nature Alliance is a collaborative initiative to catalyze the protection of 18 million square kilometers, or 5% of the global ocean. Together with our network of 100+ partners, we work to accelerate the pace, scale, and effectiveness of ocean conservation for the benefit of nature and people. Visit bluenaturealliance.org to learn more and follow our work on X and LinkedIn.

About Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation:
Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation to create positive outcomes for future generations. In pursuit of that vision, we advance scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area.

About Oceans 5:
Oceans 5 is the world’s leading strategic regranting organization targeting ocean conservation. Since 2011, the organization has provided about $160 million in grants to more than 190 organizations in more than 130 countries to establish marine protected areas, stop overfishing, and constrain offshore oil and gas development. Oceans 5 works closely with civil society and Indigenous organizations to design collaborative projects and campaigns to influence government decisions through advocacy, research, communications, and capacity building, often leveraging opportunities presented by new elections, appointments, and policy changes. Oceans 5 is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

About Paul M. Angell Family Foundation:
The mission of the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is to advance society through the conservation of the world’s oceans, the performing arts, and the prevention and alleviation of poverty. The foundation was created in 2011 to honor Paul M. Angell, and strives to embody the legacy of his compassion, ingenuity and industriousness. Visit pmangellfamfound.org/about-us/ for more information.

About Schmidt Ocean Institute:
Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

About Vere Initiatives:
Established by Natasha and Dirk Ziff, with the mission to both create and inspire change that meaningfully impacts the future of the planet, Vere looks for opportunities in conservation, biodiversity, and advocacy that target the root causes of the climate crisis. To accomplish this, it seeks out partners engaging in robust scientific research, policy solutions at every level, savvy communications and community power-building.