A study led by the Universidade do Algarve in collaboration with the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) has revealed that there are significant gaps in the protection of marine areas with high biodiversity, especially in the face of increasing maritime traffic.
Researchers warn that stricter conservation measures must be applied if global protection goals for 2030 are to be achieved.
The impact of maritime traffic on biodiversity
The reality is worrying: only 16% of high marine biodiversity areas are protected from the risks arising from maritime traffic.
Although this activity is crucial for global trade —transporting about 90% of international goods—, it is highly detrimental to marine life. The most affected are cetaceans, seals, turtles, and seabirds, which suffer the consequences of:
- Pollution from hydrocarbons and underwater noise.
- Collisions with vessels.
- Alterations in species behavior due to the constant presence of ships.
Priority areas: mitigation and preservation
The scientific team identified regions where high biodiversity coincides with different levels of maritime traffic (intense, medium, low, or none). Based on this analysis, they defined two categories of priority areas:
- Priority Mitigation Areas: coastal zones with high biodiversity and intense traffic, such as the central Pacific, the southern Indian Ocean, and the South Atlantic.
- Priority Preservation Areas: regions with high biodiversity and low traffic density, located mainly in the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere, where human presence is lower.
Currently, Preservation Areas are protected at 15%, while Mitigation Areas reach only 16%, figures insufficient in the face of the ecological challenges of maritime transport.
Gaps in protection and the need for action
“These data highlight significant gaps in the protection of marine biodiversity and underscore the need to strengthen conservation measures and maritime traffic planning on a global scale,” explained Marcello D’Amico, researcher at EBD-CSIC.
The identification of areas with low maritime activity and areas where biodiversity coincides with high traffic density offers an objective basis for guiding marine spatial planning and decision-making in management.
30×30 Goal: protect 30% of marine areas
The study results highlight that current protection systems are insufficient. Therefore, researchers emphasize the need to strengthen conservation measures and coordinate them with better maritime traffic planning on a global scale.
This research lays the groundwork for defining policies to address the ecological challenges of maritime transport and achieve the 30×30 Goal of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to which numerous countries have committed. The goal aims to protect 30% of marine areas by 2030, ensuring the conservation of ecosystems essential for life on the planet.
The study led by the Universidade do Algarve and the CSIC reveals a clear picture: marine biodiversity is at risk from global maritime traffic, and current protection coverage is insufficient.
Strengthening conservation measures, expanding Marine Protected Areas, and coordinating maritime transport management are essential steps to meet international commitments and ensure a sustainable future for the oceans.
