In 2004 Australia rezoned the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, an area of ocean bigger than Italy, and turned a third of it into fully protected, no-take zones. They sectioned off the reef to surprising detail, balancing biodiversity conservation with sustainable use. Mind you, this was done with 2004 tech, so it was no easy feat. That process is now a benchmark for marine parks around the world. Australia is still a leader in ocean protection, now moving to get ahead of the deadline to protect 30% of its seas by 2030. The government launched a once-in-a-decade review proposing to highly protect an additional 67 million hectares, which would push the country past the target. By comparison, most nations that made the 30x30 pledge have barely moved, with less than 1% of their oceans protected. Globally, only around 10% of the ocean is protected. Over 190 countries committed to protecting 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030. Do you think we’ll succeed? Photos by PaulNicklen & M...