The conference will take place in Montreal, Canada.

The event says that the pending adoption by 196 countries (including South Africa) of the Global Biodiversity Framework incorporating target three (also known as 30x30) could not be better timed, as it is pertinent to place a spotlight on the need for more ocean protection.

According to the conference, overfishing, damaging industrial activities, habitat destruction, climate change and pollution are not letting up. By not protecting our ocean's ability to keep giving us everything we take, we risk a huge biodiversity crisis involving ocean collapse and a subsequent economic catastrophe.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can help restore ocean health and resilience, as well as:
  • help the ocean mitigate the impacts of climate change
  • produce bigger and more fish
  • create jobs, and
  • feed tourism.

The conference says that the global ocean is in crisis and needs at least 30% protection by 2030. South Africa can help by doubling its current 5.4% protection of the oceans around the country as an immediate next step.

Achieving 10%, or more, representative (of multiple habitats and species) protection around South Africa will help the country's ocean and its people and is an important stepping stone to the protection needed globally (a minimum of 30% by 2030), it adds.

"We take for granted just how much we rely on a clean, thriving ocean," says Lauren van Nijkerk, campaign lead for the WILDTRUST, a South African Non-Profit Organisation focused on the conservation of the natural world.

"Every second breath we take comes from the ocean; it offers us food security, tourism and jobs and it regulates our weather. We cannot afford not to protect it as much as we depend on it," adds van Nijkerk.

A preliminary assessment of South Africa's MPA network, making up 5.4% of our mainland waters against the global MPA Guide tool, shows that most of its MPAs are implemented or actively managed with many that are highly and fully protected, which lends itself to high levels of biodiversity protection.

It is undoubtedly true that South Africa still has a way to go. Its successes in systematic conservation planning and establishing an effective MPA network under very tough conditions in a developing country show the possibilities for expansion in South Africa. It also shows this for other nations within Africa (and beyond) to replicate its model, according to the conference.

The '#whereisour10 #uphiu10' campaign, which launched on social media on Thursday, 1 December is in support of South Africa expanding its current 5.4% protection to at least 10% as an urgent next step, contributing to the 30x30 goal that the oceans need.

"As the people of this beautiful country, we can let the government know they have our support ahead of COP15 with '#whereisour10 #uphiu10'," says van Nijkerk.

Nijkerk concludes, "What makes this campaign fun is that it is based on the concept of searching for something, like a treasure hunt, as we figure out where the hidden gems of South Africa's Ocean are that could be our new and expanded MPAs."

The campaign asks, "COULD IT BE HERE?' and outlines potential areas for these new and expanded MPAs, including:
  • Dassen Island, which will help protect the endangered African penguin
  • the outskirts of the De Hoop MPA, protecting the endangered Puffadder shyshark that only occurs in South Africa's oceans
  • offshore on the west coast, protecting the critically endangered Soupfin shark, and
  • an extension of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park MPA to protect the critically endangered Leatherback turtle.

Another way people can show their support for increased ocean protection is by adding their name at Ocean Impact to be one of 100 000 voices amplifying the need to look after our ocean, which will continue to look after us.

For more information, visit www.unep.org. You can also follow the United Nations Biodiversity Conference on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.