Campaign

Urge France to Effectively Protect its Maritime Spaces

125,324 signatures. Let’s get to 130K

Call on France to strengthen its marine protected areas.

Following the international agreement at the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15),  190 countries committed to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, sparking new hope for the ocean.

While France claims to be a champion of climate and biodiversity on the international stage, the current conservation policy implemented in its maritime territories is far from adequate, and undermines its international posture.

Given that France oversees the world’s second-largest maritime territory (nearly 11 million square kilometers), it has a critical responsibility to promote the health of the ocean — a crucial regulator of the climate and the largest living space on the planet.

Today, France’s government states that 33% of its maritime spaces are covered by marine protected areas (MPAs). In reality, the government actually permits industrial and extractive activities in most of these so-called “protected” areas. Such activities include aggregate mining, industrial fishing, offshore wind farms, and more.

The European Union is currently calling for an increase in the level of protection of MPAs and for the strict protection of 10% of the EU’s maritime spaces. Yet, only 4% of French maritime spaces are strictly protected as of 2022 and almost all are exclusively located in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Furthermore, France does not align itself with the EU’s definition of “strict protection” and instead promotes its own “strong French protection” — one that allows extractive activities and disturbances with little to no environmental impact assessment. Meanwhile, research from the French scientific community illustrates the clear ecological, economic, and social benefits of strong levels of protection in MPAs.

Corsica
French Polynesia
Brittany
New Caledonia

The Ocean & Climate Platform is launching a campaign to urge the French government to protect 30% of its maritime spaces by 2030 with a network of connected and effectively protected marine areas. We are also asking France to include strict protections in 10% of its maritime spaces across each maritime coastline and outermost sea basin. These new definitions of protection must be supported by the necessary human and financial resources, as well as a continued dialogue between all stakeholders to ensure that these MPAs are successfully implemented and sustained.

Aligned with scientific research findings as well as international standards and regional requirements, we call on the French government to:

  1. Adopt the definition of a marine protected area according to the global conservation standards of the IUCN and apply it to the 33% of French maritime spaces covered by MPAs.

  2. Strengthen the legal definition of “strong protection” by aligning it with the European definition of “strict protection.”

  3. Strictly protect 10% of each maritime coastline and outermost sea basin.

France is currently developing its new National Strategy for the Sea and the Coast, which must define the major policy directions for the marine environment between 2023 and 2029.

Nearly 97% of the French exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is located in its overseas territories.

Join us in urging the French government to create a true and effective network of marine protected areas — and to adopt strong definitions of protection for the future.

Our NGO supporters

Campaign Ambassadors

Animaux: Mode d’Emploi

Content Creator

@animaux_mde

Gaetan Dagir

Content creator, Activist

@gaetangabriele

Vicplusgreen

Content Creator

@vicplusgreen

Alexia Duchêne

Chef

@alexiaduchene

Mes Brouillons de Cuisine

Food Influencer

@mesbrouillonsdecuisine

Healthy Alie

Food Influencer

@healthyalie

Janina Rossiter

Illustrator, Activist

@janinarossiter

Ludo Torbey

Journalist, YouTuber

@osonscauser

Stephane Lambert

Journalist, YouTuber

@osonscauser

Supporters
Mariya L

I love my planet and those I share it with, and I believe you overestimate yourselves, humans. You make so many unnecessary movements with your lack o…

3 days ago
Andoni P

nature needs our help, we cannot let it die out

2 weeks ago
Janssen W

our oceans and planet are extremely vulnerable and the threats to biodiversity loss are greater than ever.

4 weeks ago
Jack S

France is being dishonest about it’s commitment, when they should be setting an example of oceanic conservation.

1 month ago
Laura M

France is not respecting its commitment to protect 30% of its maritime territory and has been lying to its citizen and to the international community.…

1 month ago
Gillian C

Our oceans are a vital and interconnecred system that preserves a habitable climate and environment for all throughout the world. The actions of Franc…

1 month ago
Maarten W

if France can't do the right thing, what hope is there for the rest of the world.

1 month ago
Κωνσταντίνος Π

Konstantinos Papanatsios Greece

2 months ago
Mariette M

there are few things as magnificent to discover as the marvels of our underwater world... let this not die out because of vanity and greed!

2 months ago
Shadicy G

I care about the marine animals.

2 months ago
Nancy H

I agree

2 months ago
Gabriela N

life originated from the Oceans

2 months ago
Ayzada А

Призвать Францию ​​эффективно защищать свои морские пространства

3 months ago
Arina K

i am signing because culture heritage must be protected and touched only for the purpose of improvement

4 months ago
Marcella Q

it's imperative that we do all we can to protect spaces & species from collapse or extinction!

5 months ago
Angela D

I am passionate about protecting the global environment for the good of all species, and the oceans are a massive and important part of this!

5 months ago
Chris d

short term gain vs. long term survival I know what I'm choosing. It's up to us all when is enough....enough???

5 months ago
Wendy C

It's time we all put Nature and our resources first, ahead of industry and ahead of money. You can't survive on money or industry if you don't have cl…

6 months ago
Sinclair C

simclair croft

6 months ago
Stephanie M

common sense says so

6 months ago
Krysten B

it’s one of the single most important things we could do now, for our future

7 months ago
Laura M

Weil in den Meeren je alles Leben begann

7 months ago
Elvire D

Nous n'héritons pas de la terre de nos ancêtres, nous l'empruntons à nos enfants. - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

7 months ago
Michael

France got following E.U

8 months ago
Paul G

The ocean can be an enormous help with climate change and biodiversity loss, or it can make things worse. The choice is no choice. Please do this.

8 months ago
Add your name

Share the campaign

Spread the word among your friends and community with our ready-to-download social posts and stories.

10 free trees if you sign up today

Save the planet every month with our membership

Grow your own forests and reefs

Remove plastic and carbon pollution

See your impact in a personal dashboard

Invite friends to plant with you

100% of funds go to projects