The need for authentic and durable ocean sustainability is clear, but the scientific processes required to meet that need are still developing with the creation of true interdisciplinary science still presenting many challenges. Nations around the world aim to conserve 30% of the ocean via spatial management with accompanying regulations, such as marine protected areas (MPAs), by the year 2030 (the “30 by 30” concept). With the rise of MPAs worldwide, including coastal, bluewater, and soon-to-be-high seas MPAs, there is a global interest and need for robust science in support of these protected areas. MPAs and other measures can promote climate resiliency through contributions to carbon sequestration, the protection of climate-sensitive living marine resources, connectivity across locations, and enabling adaptation and livelihoods in adjacent communities. Conversely, MPAs and the organisms and habitats within them are vulnerable to climate hazards, which can impact their potential for increased fishery production to sustain growing human populations.

This Research Topic will aim to bring together a wide breadth of submissions that help to advance and grow the field of MPA science, which is still relatively nascent. With this Research Topic, we hope to catalyse the submission and publication of the latest work on MPA science, midway through the UN Decade of Ocean Science, in the hopes of providing a stronger scientific examination of the strengths and challenges surrounding ocean protection mechanisms.

We invite interdisciplinary submissions that feature work at the nexus of ocean science, social science, and MPAs, including those that address physical, biogeochemical, and ecological changes in MPAs and additional areas of conservation interest; assess MPA impacts on marine organisms, biodiversity, human coastal communities, and maritime heritage sites; use an integrated socio-ecological approach to address climate change adaptation, or; develop climate-sensitive protocols to optimize conservation area

boundaries.

This Research Topic will build from the 2024 Ocean Sciences Meeting, where 27 abstracts were submitted on this topic, resulting in two oral sessions and one poster session. As such, we expect robust submissions to the Research Topic from Ocean Sciences, and beyond. We will welcome submissions that showcase collaborative science with underrepresented communities in conservation literature and science collaboratively created with local and Indigenous communities within MPAs. We welcome submissions with any geographic scope, from work within and about MPAs in any stage (potential, scoping, implemented, established).

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Frontiers in Marine Science

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