COP26: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama Announce New Protections for “Ocean Highway”

Boris Johnson praises new marine protected area; Colombia announces collaboration with leading oceanographer on new expedition to explore second area

Editor’s note: Photos are available here and here.

Drawing attention to the critical yet overlooked role oceans play in keeping the planet cool—in addition to safeguarding species and supporting food security—the leaders of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama launched a new marine protected area to be called the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR).

The new area serves as a thoroughfare for tuna, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, whales and other animals. These animals move along the ocean corridor to feed, meet each other, reproduce, and give birth. As a result, the Eastern Tropical Pacific is also one of the most abundant fishing areas in the world, providing millions in South America with food and incomes. And it is home to coastal mangroves, which protect people against tropical storms.

All of these benefits are currently under threat due to overfishing, which also threatens turtles, sharks and other ocean life. Granting strong protections to the Eastern Tropical Pacific can help this area thrive again.

The decision by Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Panama to establish this marine protected area demonstrates the strong and growing political will to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030. Right now, only 7% of the ocean is protected.

Also at the event, President of Colombia Iván Duque announced a new two-month expedition in partnership with National Geographic Pristine Seas to assess marine life along the Eastern Tropical Pacific superhighways and other areas in Colombia’s waters.

Members of the expedition will use a manned submersible, remote cameras and other high-tech tools to explore the ocean to full depth. The goal of the expedition is to survey current marine protected areas and to identify new potential areas.

Earlier in the day, President Duque had pledged to protect 30% of the country’s land and ocean by 2022—eight years ahead of the global target of 2030. He also said that Colombia will protect an additional 16 million hectares of marine protected areas—on top of the 12 million hectares already protected.

Last month, the EarthShot Prize, the Royal Foundation’s new global prize for the environment, recognized Costa Rica (winner) and Pristine Seas (finalist) for their conservation work.

Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister said:

Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica said:

Enric Sala, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Pristine Seas, said:

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The Campaign for Nature works with scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and a growing coalition of over 100 conservation organizations around the world who are calling on policymakers to commit to clear and ambitious targets to be agreed upon at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China in 2021 to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 and working with Indigenous leaders to ensure full respect for Indigenous rights.