Habitat degradation

In countless areas around the globe, these habitats are under threat from human activities including intense fishing, increased shipping, off-shore exploration of oil and gas, and marine-based tourism. Climate change, coastal construction and water contamination are also putting whales and dolphins at risk.  Only a tiny fraction of critical cetacean habitat is protected from these threats.

We urgently need to better manage precious ecosystems to protect vulnerable populations, yet governments and policy makers are often unaware of the importance of critical habitats under their care.

By adopting the concepts of critical habitat, ecosystem-based management, biosphere reserves, zoning and networks, we – all of us who work to protect marine species and ecosystems – can make greater headway towards ocean conservation.

Marine protected areas are a powerful tool for reducing habitat loss, preserving biodiversity and increasing nature’s resilience to multiple stressors, including climate change. Marine protected areas offer a nature-based solution to support global efforts towards climate change adaptation and mitigation.

To delivery UN Sustainable Development Goals, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and others recommend that 30 per cent of the ocean be protected.

According to the World Database on Protected Areas, the global coverage of marine protected areas is 7.43 per cent (26,925,028 km2). WWF is collaborating with many stakeholders to protect 30 per cent of our global ocean by 2030 through establishing marine protected areas and other area-based management measures. These and other management options can be targeted to reduce impacts of shipping and fisheries bycatch, thus protecting critical habitats.