Oceans: France announces three new marine protected areas and strengthens its fight against plastic pollution

At the Neptune Forum in Paris, one year after the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the French government unveiled several measures to strengthen the protection of marine areas. Three new marine protected areas will be created in Audierne Bay, Guadeloupe, and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. These announcements are part of the national strategy for preserving marine biodiversity, as scientists warn of the continued degradation of the state of the oceans worldwide.

With these new protected areas, the proportion of French maritime waters benefiting from a high level of protection now reaches 14,68%. This status imposes very strict restrictions on certain human activities such as fishing, resource extraction, and some forms of tourism. The government hopes to reach its target of 14,8% of waters under strong protection by the end of the year, a commitment made at the United Nations Ocean Conference held in Nice in 2025.

An international mobilization that continues

These announcements come in a diplomatic context marked by progress on the international treaty on the high seas, designed to better protect marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. Signed by more than 90 countries to date, this treaty represents a major step forward for ocean governance. French authorities now wish to accelerate its implementation and aim for the participation of at least 120 states at the first Conference of the Parties dedicated to the high seas, scheduled for January 2027 at the United Nations.

For French officials involved in international negotiations, the increasing number of ratifications is a crucial lever for strengthening the protection of the most vulnerable marine areas. Even though some major maritime powers have not yet joined the agreement, diplomats believe that the growing support from numerous states is already creating momentum for better ocean conservation worldwide.

A new plan to combat plastic waste

The government also presented the outlines of an interministerial action plan dedicated to combating plastic waste in the sea for the period 2026-2030. This strategy aims to reduce the flow of waste that reaches marine environments each year from waterways, cities, and coastal activities. Authorities reiterate that approximately 12 million tons of plastic end up in the world's oceans every year, causing considerable damage to ecosystems.

This new program includes preventative measures, stricter controls, and awareness campaigns targeting the general public and businesses. The goal is to act across the entire production and consumption chain to sustainably limit waste discharges into the environment and reduce their impact on marine life.

Environmental indicators remain a cause for concern.

Despite these advances, data published in the latest Starfish barometer show that the overall state of the oceans continues to deteriorate. Scientists are observing an acceleration of the effects of climate change and the loss of marine biodiversity. The number of marine species threatened with extinction continues to rise, while coral bleaching events are reaching record levels due to warming waters.

Experts also emphasize that sea level rise is accelerating. According to the latest observations, the rate of sea level rise has doubled between 2012 and 2025 compared to previous decades. This trend represents a growing threat to coastal areas, shoreline ecosystems, and the millions of people living near the coast.

Objectives still far from being achieved

Globally, marine protected areas now cover just over 10% of the ocean's surface, a significant increase but still insufficient to meet international objectives. Experts point out that only a small portion of these areas benefit from truly strong or comprehensive protection, guaranteeing effective biodiversity conservation.

Faced with the environmental emergency, scientific organizations and nature conservation associations believe that efforts will need to be considerably strengthened in the coming years to achieve the international goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030. The French announcements thus constitute a new step, but they also illustrate the scale of the challenge that remains to be met in order to sustainably preserve marine ecosystems.