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Marine Protection

Helping create some of the largest, most effective national parks in the ocean – to date 26 – totaling over 6.5 million square kilometers, ⅔ the size of the US with National Geographic Pristine Seas



When we let the ocean heal without extractive activities, it miraculously regenerates itself in a short amount of time. Fully protected areas bring back the ocean, not 100% but 500%, in as little as 5 to 10 years. National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala launched Pristine Seas in 2008 to explore and help save the last wild places in the ocean.

Pristine Seas works with local communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and partners to protect vital places in the ocean. Marine life thrives in these protected areas and provides multiple benefits to people, from food and coastal protection, to jobs and economic revenue. 

The ocean has an extraordinary capacity to regenerate if we give it some space. And everyone – fisherman, tourists, scientists – ends up benefitting from it.

Dr. Enric Sala,
Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society

Dynamic Planet has worked in partnership with Pristine Seas since its inception. We assess a country’s marine environment now and model what it could be – with effective protection, marine life replenishment from that protection, and effective management.

We listen to local needs and help transition communities and businesses from extractive to regenerative economies, and help with the business and conservation planning, financing, and policy reform needed to get there. Local marine economies are boosted by protection with conservation tourism inside reserves and sustainable fishing outside.