Colombia Expands MPA at Malpelo Island Hope Spot, Reaching 30x30 Goals - Mission Blue

June 28, 2022

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Today at the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference, Carlos Eduardo Correa, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, announced the creation of four marine protected areas and marine management areas, including one that expands the fully protected Malpelo Sanctuary. With this remarkable action, Colombia surpasses the 30×30 ocean protection goal eight years before the 2030 deadline. 

 

 

Correa says, “We have declared a new corridor along with Panama, Costa Rica and Ecuador.” He continues, ” There’s nothing more powerful than collective work and collective goals. Thank you to Dr. Sylvia Earle and Mission Blue for always being an inspiration.”

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue says, “What’s happening here today is a celebration of a strong move towards a turning point. Humans have succeeded in developing the most magnificent ways of destroying the planet and one another. Today, we celebrate Colombia for stepping up – 30 before 30!”

Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia, says, “Sylvia, it’s always an honor to share these kinds of events together. You have been an inspiration to many of us here today. You continue to create a chain that motivates the world to protect the ocean.”

Today, Colombia has taken historic action to save the ocean. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of Colombia’s environmental, fishing, and maritime authorities, along with scientists, the private fishing sector, environmental organizations, and the people of Colombia, the Government of Colombia announced it will officially expand and strengthen marine protection by creating four new marine protected areas, including one that expands the fully protected Malpelo Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora.

With this remarkable action, Colombia surpasses the 30×30 ocean protection goal eight years before the 2030 deadline, a target that scientists have indicated is necessary to prevent catastrophic loss of marine life, and the benefits the ocean provides to millions of people. This will strengthen the protection of marine biodiversity in Colombian waters, and particularly throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor, a region that includes vital migration routes for several endangered species that live and travel between the islands, seamounts, and coastlines of Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and beyond. This is a crucial victory for the ocean, for the climate, for Colombia, and for humanity.

Congratulations and thank you Colombia!


Hoy, Colombia ha tomado una acción histórica para salvar el océano. Gracias a la dedicación y arduo trabajo de las autoridades ambientales, pesqueras y marítimas de Colombia, junto con científicos, el sector pesquero privado, organizaciones ambientalistas y el pueblo de Colombia, el Gobierno anunció que oficialmente ampliará y fortalecerá la protección marina mediante la creación de cuatro nuevas áreas marinas protegidas, incluida una que amplía el Santuario de Fauna y Flora Malpelo.

Con esta notable acción, Colombia supera la meta de protección de los océanos 30×30 ocho años antes de la fecha límite deL 2030, una meta que los científicos han señalado como necesaria para evitar la pérdida catastrófica de vida marina y los beneficios que el océano brinda a millones de personas. Esto fortalecerá la protección de la biodiversidad marina en aguas colombianas, y particularmente en el corredor marino del Pacífico Oriental Tropical, una región que incluye rutas de migración vitales para varias especies amenazadas que viven y se trasladan entre las islas, monets submarinos y costas de Colombia, Panamá, Ecuador, Costa Rica y otros países. Esta es una victoria crucial para el océano, para el clima, para Colombia y para la humanidad.

¡Felicidades y gracias Colombia!

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