In 2006 The Pew Charitable Trusts and several partners launched the Global Ocean Legacy project in an effort to establish the world’s first generation of great marine parks. After a decade of working with indigenous groups, community leaders, government officials, scientists and other organizations, the project has aided in the creation of nine major marine reserves and has helped safeguard more than 2.4 million square miles (6.3 million square kilometers) of ocean—an area 12 times the size of Central America.

Through its 10 years, the Global Ocean Legacy project has worked to support the announcement and/or designation of:

  • Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
  • Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve.
  • Palau National Marine Sanctuary.
  • Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
  • Coral Sea Marine National Park.
  • Chagos Marine Reserve.
  • Marianas Trench Marine National Monument.
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary.
  • Easter Island Marine Park.

The efforts of Global Ocean Legacy continue through the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project, a partnership between The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Bertarelli Foundation. 

Press Releases & Statements

U.K Designates Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve

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Press Releases & Statements

LONDON—The Pew Charitable Trusts joins the Pitcairn Island Council in praising Her Majesty’s government for today’s designation of 320,465 square miles (approximately 830,000 square kilometres) as a marine reserve in the remote waters surrounding the Pitcairn Islands in the South Pacific Ocean.

Video

10 Years of Commitment to Ocean Protection

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Video

Since 2006, The Pew Charitable Trusts Global Ocean Legacy project has worked with indigenous groups, community leaders, government officials, scientists and other organizations to help protect the ocean; a part of the planet that is key to some island cultures and marine life. The Global Ocean Legacy campaign has aided in the creation of nine major marine reserves: Palau, Chagos, Coral Sea, Marianas Trench, Pacific Remote Islands, Easter Island, Pitcairn, Kermadecs, and Papahānumokuākea. To date, Global Ocean Legacy has helped safeguard more than 2.4 million square miles of ocean. For more about the Global Ocean Legacy project please visit, globaloceanlegacy.org.

Press Releases & Statements

U.S. Creates World’s Largest Protected Area

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Press Releases & Statements

HONOLULU—The Pew Charitable Trusts joins partners in Hawaii and the scientific community in praising today’s announcement by President Barack Obama that the United States has expanded the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, also known as Papahānaumokuākea, to 582,578 square miles (1.5 million square kilometers).

Data Visualization

Global Ocean Legacy Map

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Data Visualization

Global Ocean Legacy, a project of Pew and its partners, is working with local communities, governments and scientists around the world to protect and conserve some of our most important and unspoiled ocean environments. See where we are working in the map below.

Our Work

Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy
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Pew and the Bertarelli Foundation created a new partnership with the goal of increasing the number of fully protected parks in the sea from nine to 15 by 2022.

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Pew and the Bertarelli Foundation created a new partnership with the goal of increasing the number of fully protected parks in the sea from nine to 15 by 2022.

Learn More
Podcast

Our Blue Planet–Protecting the Ocean

Episode 6

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Podcast

Three-quarters of our planet is covered with water—and it’s this water that sustains life. But our liquid planet, home to half of the world’s known creatures and plants, is facing multiple threats, such as overfishing and commercial development. That’s why leading scientists say that 30 percent of our oceans should be protected. Host Dan LeDuc explores why this 30 percent data point is important with two people committed to safeguarding the oceans: native Hawaiian Sol Kaho’ohalahala, whose culture and livelihood depend on sustainable seas; and Matt Rand, who directs the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Project and has been working with people like Kaho’ohalahala since 2006 to keep our oceans healthy.

Article

2015's Biggest Marine Reserve Wins in 12 Stunning Photos

From Palau to Easter Island, a visual tour of the major gains in ocean conservation

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Article

2015 was a landmark year for ocean conservation. With the announcements of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, an Easter Island Marine Park, the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, and the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, more than 2.5 million square kilometers of additional ocean (about 965,000 square miles) will soon be fully protected. This will increase the total amount of ocean safeguarded at this level to 6.5 million square kilometers (2.5 million square miles).

Support our Work
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Invest with Pew to ensure the ocean is healthy for generations to come.

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Invest with Pew to ensure the ocean is healthy for generations to come.