Celebrating local actions for global impact
1 August
The date is approaching fast and we’re making preparations.
Don’t miss out!
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Join us for the MPA Day 2026 European Meeting, and be part of the movement to protect our seas and marine biodiversity.
12 May 2026
12:00 (WEST), 13:00 (CEST), 14:00 (EEST)
Meeting ID: 321 358 345 188 02
Passcode: D5m8VY6Z
Join our MPA Day 2026 Africa Meeting, and learn more about what is being planned for 2026.
12 May 2026
14:00 (SAST)
Meeting ID: 386 381 639 493 390
Passcode: gF2fb7x7
MPA Day, held every year on 1 August, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and their essential role in ocean conservation, sustainable development, and community well-being.
First launched in 2021 by South African organisations, MPA Day was created to spotlight a key gap in global environmental observances — none focused specifically on MPAs. The date marks the historic proclamation of 20 new or expanded MPAs in South Africa on 1 August 2019, a major milestone in marine protection.
Since then, MPA Day has become an international movement, endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and embraced by people and organisations around the world.
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MPA Day is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. Use of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development logo by a non-UN entity does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations of such entity, its products or services, or of its planned activities. For more information please access: https://forum.oceandecade.org/page/disclaimer

Join us for a dedicated MPA Day
European planning meeting on 12 May 2026
12:00 (WEST), 13:00 (CEST) & 14:00 (EEST)