Safeguarding our blue Planet: Global action for a sustainable ocean future falls short at effectively conserving biodiversity.

The ocean is central to human well-being. It regulates climate and provides food, energy, minerals, and genetic resources as well as cultural and recreational services. Even though the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals cannot be met without a healthy ocean, an expanding human footprint is placing it at risk. To help protect the ocean, Member States of the United Nations agreed to protect 30% of their waters by 2030 following the Convention on Biological Diversity Global Biodiversity Framework. Here, five years to completion, showcasing and compiling global, regional and national assessments based on both the Regulation-Based Classification System and the MPA Guide, I show that we fall short at effectively conserving biodiversity. Most countries implementing area-based conservation tools are not hold accountable and strategize for quantity rather than quality. Building on theses assessments, I present six recommendations to ensure a more effective implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) and recognition of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) to ensure they protect our ocean and safeguard environmental and human well-being.