Mission Blue, together with our incredible Hope Spot Champions and partners, united to make this the most impactful Marine Protected Areas Day yet!

September 16, 2025

Header image – MPA Day participants in the False Bay Hope Spot. Credit: Two Oceans Aquarium

In just five years, South African-born Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day has grown into a global movement, raising awareness about the critical importance of MPAs – for both people and nature.

Since joining the campaign in 2024, Mission Blue, through its powerful network and passionate Hope Spot Champions, has played an integral role in creating the biggest wave of impact yet.

This year, the campaign more than doubled in size, thanks in part to Mission Blue’s global reach and unwavering commitment to ocean protection. Highlights from this year’s celebration include:

Dr. Judy Mann, Founder of MPA Day, Executive of Strategic Projects at the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, and False Bay Co-Champion, shared:

“We knew that this year’s MPA Day would be big, but we never imagined it would be this big. MPA Day is now truly a global celebration, as people around the world connected around a unifying belief: we need to protect our oceans.”

Across the globe, Mission Blue’s Hope Spot Champions hosted a wide range of in-person events to celebrate MPA Day—bringing communities together through hands-on conservation, education, and storytelling. From guided dives and beach cleanups to art workshops and school programs, these events showcased the power of local action in support of global ocean protection.

Alboran Sea, Mediterranean

Hope Spot Champions Eco & Dive hosted a community dive, giving participants the opportunity to explore the marine ecosystem on their doorstep while learning about the importance of MPAs.

Aliwal Shoal, South Africa

Aliwal Shoal’s Hope Spot Champions were joined by scientists, ocean advocates, local residents, and conservation partners for a 32km beach walk along the entire stretch of the Aliwal Shoal MPA. During the walk, they engaged beachgoers about MPAs and recorded wildlife sightings.

Cagarras Islands and Surrounding Waters, Brazil

Verde Mar Project partnered with the Paisagem Carioca Marine Sanctuary during their kids’ summer camp to spread awareness about proper waste disposal and marine life preservation through fun and interactive educational games.

 

Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea

Hope Spot Champions the Conflict Islands Conservation Initiative hosted a marine debris beach and dive cleanup.

 

Eastern Tropical Pacific – Cocos Island, Cocos-Galápagos Swimway, Cordillera de Coida, Galápagos Islands, Gulf of California, Malpelo Island

A number of Champions from the Eastern Tropical Pacific Hope Spots, in collaboration with Migramar, hosted a webinar to explore the importance of MPAs.The event was accompanied by a social media campaign showcasing the region’s extraordinary sites and highlighting the scientific research driving their conservation efforts.

False Bay, South Africa

Champions Two Oceans Aquarium hosted a rocky shore exploration, while Champions Cape RADD provided guided snorkel tours in the local kelp forest.

 

Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica 

Hope Spot Champions Misión Tiburón hosted a visit to the Santa Rosa National Park MPA in the Guanacaste Conservation Area. While there, they led a dive with bull sharks at the Bat Islands.

Great Fringing Reef of the Red Sea, Egypt

Hope Spot Champions HEPCA conducted a capacity-building mangrove monitoring training workshop and also collaborated with local volunteers and dive centers to host a community beach cleanup.

Greater Skellig Coast and Islands, Ireland

Hope Spot Champions Sea Synergy and Fair Seas hosted a number of events, including a guided seagrass snorkeling and rock pooling activity, as well as an underwater photography exhibition.

 

Jangamo Bay, Mozambique

Hope Spot Champions Love the Oceans hosted a cleanup dive during which they removed discarded fishing gear from the area.

 

Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

Hope Spot Champions Mahonia Na Dari Inc. hosted a week-long celebration featuring a Crown-of-thorns removal, an immersive marine education program, a beach and snorkel cleanup, and a community presentation evening and celebration.

 

Knysna, South Africa

Hope Spot Champions, the Knysna Estuary Research Foundation, hosted three back-to-back public events in the Knysna Estuary: a guided estuary edge walk, a community snorkeling session, and an interactive art station.

 

Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Hope Spot Champions, the Maldives Underwater Initiative, hosted a guided kayak tour through the area’s protected mangrove forests and delivered a presentation about the MPAs in Laamu.

Malpelo Island, Colombia

Hope Spot Champions Fundación Malpelo invited local community members to take part in their mangrove restoration project.

 

Maputaland, South Africa & Mozambique

Hope Spot Champions on the Mozambican side of the Hope Spot, the Likhulu Foundation, hosted a special MPA Day event that included an opening address from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, a presentation on gender in MPAs, and the official launch of the Mozambique Locally Managed Marine Area database.

On the South African side of the Hope Spot, Champions Thonga Trails and partner Adventure Mania organized a range of events, including an MPA Day run, a volleyball challenge, a beach cleanup, and an immersive marine education session on the local beach as part of the Sodwana Sea School Initiative.

Northeast Iceland

Hope Spot Champions, Ocean Missions, hosted a public cleanup as well as a talk on community perceptions of the Northeast Iceland Hope Spot and marine resource management.

Pangatalan Island, Philippines

Hope Spot Champions, Sulubaaï Environmental Foundation, hosted a guided dive led by MPA Rangers for local youth leaders. Participants learned about local conservation practices and the importance of MPAs.

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Hope Spot Champions, Nature’s Valley Trust, spent the day with learners from several primary schools, exploring the Robberg MPA and learning about the ancestral heritage of the area. The students also created poetry and ocean-themed art, which will contribute to an international collaborative mural with Torre Guaceto MPA in Italy.

Hope Spot Champions, the ORCA Foundation, joined a collaborative beach cleanup in the Robberg MPA. Volunteers also learned about the unique biodiversity, geological features, and importance of the MPA.

 

Tetiaroa Atoll, French Polynesia

Hope Spot Champions Te mana o te moana, hosted a youth-centered event to foster ocean awareness and celebrate marine biodiversity.

 

Tropical Pacific Sea of Peru

Hope Spot Champions, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Peru, hosted a public screening of the Mission Blue film to raise awareness about the importance of the ocean.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines

Champions conducted a storytelling session at a local school, sharing the story of Clowny the clownfish and the challenges facing Clowny’s home in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

 

Shannon McIntyre Rake, Hope Spots Programme Manager for Mission Blue shared, “MPA Day 2025 showed the true strength of our global Hope Spots network. From local cleanups to large-scale community events, our Champions and partners came together across the world to highlight the importance of Marine Protected Areas. Their passion and collaboration continue to inspire action and give hope for a healthier, more resilient ocean.”

With the involvement of Mission Blue—alongside co-leads the Two Oceans Aquarium and HELCOM—its dedicated Hope Spot Champions, and a passionate global network of ocean advocates, this year’s MPA Day was the most impactful yet, inspiring ocean awareness, advancing education, and driving conservation action in communities worldwide.

Mission Blue extends its sincere thanks to all of the partners and organizations across the globe for their valuable contributions to this year’s campaign.