As the global race to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030 gains momentum, the Philippines is stepping into a leadership role in Asia’s marine conservation efforts. Recently, Iloilo City played host to the Asia Regional Large-Scale Marine Protected Area (LSMPA) Workshop, bringing together conservation leaders, scientists, policymakers, and community advocates from across the region.
The two-day workshop was organized by the Zoological Society of London Philippines (ZSL Philippines) in partnership with the Blue Nature Alliance (BNA), alongside regional partners from government, academe, and non-government organizations. At its core, the gathering focused on one shared goal: how Asia can protect its oceans at scale through science-based and community-driven approaches.
Why Large-Scale Marine Protection Matters
Asia is home to some of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems in the world. From coral reefs and mangroves to deep-sea habitats, these waters support food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity for millions of people.
According to Laure Katz, Executive Director of the Blue Nature Alliance, Asia has long led the way in nearshore marine protection. The challenge now is extending conservation beyond the traditional 12 nautical miles and into offshore waters, where threats such as illegal fishing and climate change are becoming more pronounced.
The workshop tackled this challenge head-on by exploring how science, policy, and community engagement can work together to make large-scale marine protection more achievable and effective.
A Regional Exchange of Ideas and Solutions
Co-hosted by Big Ocean, a peer-learning network created by and for managers of large-scale marine areas, the workshop gathered participants from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Vietnam, and the Solomon Islands.
With technical and financial support from the Alliance, discussions covered a wide range of issues affecting marine protection in Asia. These included governance gaps, climate-related impacts, pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, sea-level rise, and the complexities of transboundary conservation.
Beyond identifying challenges, participants also worked toward solutions. The workshop laid the groundwork for an Asia Regional LSMPA Community of Practice and began shaping a regional roadmap for large-scale marine conservation.
Collaboration as the Key to 30x30
One of the strongest messages to emerge from the workshop was the importance of collaboration. Conservation at this scale requires coordination across countries, sectors, and communities.
“The Blue Nature Alliance is working with over 130 partners globally to advance ocean conservation in 5 percent of the world’s ocean as a significant contribution to the global 30x30 goal,” Katz shared.
Participants agreed that marine conservation efforts must align with food security objectives, particularly in regions where fishing supports millions of livelihoods. They also emphasized the need for long-term and equitable financing mechanisms backed by government support, better alignment of ocean-related policies, and stronger public participation in conservation initiatives.
These shared insights highlight Asia’s growing capacity to innovate and lead when it comes to protecting marine ecosystems.
Asia’s Potential to Lead the Next Wave of Ocean Protection
For Naiʻa Lewis, Director of Big Ocean, the region holds enormous potential.
“The potential for Asia is huge,” Lewis said. “It can be a trailblazer, creating a ‘Big Ocean 2.0,’ leading the second wave of large-scale protection, and showing the world that fisheries, food security, and conservation can be addressed together.”
This vision resonated strongly throughout the workshop, especially as countries shared lessons learned from existing marine protected areas and explored ways to scale up what works.
Philippine Rise as a Flagship Conservation Effort
One of the most ambitious initiatives discussed during the workshop was the proposed Philippine Rise Ocean Conservation Area. Implemented by ZSL Philippines in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Fisheries Management Area 1, and the Blue Nature Alliance, the proposed area would cover around 150,000 square kilometers.
This represents approximately 7.5 percent of Philippine waters, potentially making it the largest single marine protected area in Asia. Beyond protecting biodiversity, the initiative aims to support long-term food security by ensuring healthier and more resilient marine ecosystems.
“The thinking around marine protected areas has long been at a much smaller scale,” said Edwina Garchitorena, Country Director of ZSL Philippines. She acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in terms of community understanding and governance alignment, but emphasized that the long-term impact makes the effort worthwhile.
From Commitment to Action
The workshop also highlighted a growing shift across Asia, particularly in the Philippines and Indonesia, where governments are beginning to translate conservation commitments into concrete action.
According to Katz, the movement toward large-scale protection is gaining momentum, supported by comprehensive solutions that address both nearshore and offshore ecosystems.
For participants, the workshop was not just a meeting, but the start of a longer journey.
“The Asia Regional LSMPA Workshop is the beginning of a meaningful journey to inspire bold action for marine protection for the benefit of people and nature,” Katz said.
Building a Collective Future for Asia’s Oceans
As climate change and human pressures continue to threaten marine ecosystems, initiatives like the Asia Regional LSMPA Workshop show that large-scale ocean protection is not only possible but increasingly necessary.
ZSL Philippines, together with the Blue Nature Alliance, Big Ocean, and regional partners, will continue working to strengthen marine governance and mobilize collective action toward achieving the global 30x30 ocean protection target.
For the Philippines, hosting this regional dialogue reinforces its growing role as a leader in ocean conservation, proving that protecting marine life and securing food for future generations can go hand in hand.