Marine protection fund
Grant recipient Oceans 5
Total awarded $25,000,000
Years 2023-2028
Funding area Conserving and restoring nature
Priority Governance
Programme site https://www.oceans5.org/joint-30x30-funding-initiative/
The Joint 30x30 Funding Initiative, hosted by Oceans 5, awards grants for work towards the target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s marine and coastal areas by 2030. Currently only 8% of the oceans are under formal protection, and many of these areas are ‘paper parks’ with no effective enforcement.
The Joint 30x30 Funding Initiative was established by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Arcadia in 2023. It supports Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, non-government organizations and governments. It funds work in coastal areas, national waters and the high seas. It also supports efforts to build coalitions, inspire new sustainable funding mechanisms and track international progress.
Oceans 5 does not accept funding proposals, but it welcomes comments on its projects and approach and ideas for potential projects. You can contact Oceans 5 via its website.
Project examples
A royal penguin rookery on Macquarie Island. Courtesy of M. Murphy - Own work, Public Domain.
Macquarie Island Marine Park
The Macquarie Island Marine Park, a marine protected area the size of Germany, is one of the first outcomes of the Joint 30x30 Funding Initiative. Macquarie Island is a sub-Antarctic outcrop 1,500 kilometres southeast of Tasmania. The island and surrounding ocean are a vital feeding and breeding ground for Antarctic wildlife. It provides a habitat for 10% of the world’s elephant seals, 3.5m seabirds, including albatross and petrels, and more than a dozen species of whale and dolphin.
The grant to the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Pew Charitable Trusts supported a public consultation process that led to a significant expansion of the size of the park and increase the level of protection. Fishing, mining and other extractive activities will be banned for 93% of the park, creating a sanctuary for marine life.
The Marine protection fund is one of our five nature grant programmes. Grant programmes are hosted by trusted partners. Our partners help us to determine where our support is most needed and distribute grants to individuals and organizations.
Top banner image: Aerial view of mangrove forests in the Bay of Assassins, southwest Madagascar, part of the Velondriake Locally Managed Marine Area. Courtesy of Blue Ventures | Louise Jasper.