Nearly three-fourths of our Earth’s surface is ocean, yet less than 1 percent is fully protected from extractive or destructive activities. Like national parks on land, marine reserves protect and conserve species and habitats for future generations. And because there are no clear borders at sea, the life that thrives within them "spills over" into surrounding areas. 

Reserves help restore marine life in areas that have already been depleted, build resilience to threats like climate change and, because these areas are left alone, provide an insurance policy for healthy oceans for our future.

From the Arctic Ocean, where rising temperatures are rapidly melting ice pack, and industrial fishing and other extractive activities are imposing upon the biodiversity of this fragile region, to coastal areas, coral reefs, deep ocean trenches and the abundant waters of Antarctica, Pew works to protect some of our great ocean habitats.

Encouraging sound ocean policy through the best available science, we continue efforts to create large-scale marine reserves to conserve these areas for future generations.