Why greater transparency is crucial for achieving 30x30 targets

Diplomats, scientists, and advocates are preparing to converge in Nice, France, this June for the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, or UNOC. With the global pledge to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 approaching — known as the 30x30 target — discussions will center on “accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”

Among those pushing for action is Dona Bertarelli, a philanthropist, ocean advocate, executive chair of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, and co-chair of the Bertarelli Foundation. Bertarelli previously served as a special adviser for the blue economy for the U.N. Trade and Development, or UNCTAD, and is the fastest woman to sail around the world.

Bertarelli will be heading to this year’s UNOC to advocate for stronger protections and greater transparency at sea, armed with insights from Marine Manager — a technology portal she co-founded with Global Fishing Watch. By combining satellite data, artificial intelligence, and user-generated inputs, the tool delivers near real-time information on fishing activity, shipping traffic, biodiversity, sea temperature, and more — helping governments and conservationists more effectively design, monitor, and manage marine protected areas, or MPAs, and other critical ecosystems.

Speaking to Devex, Bertarelli reflects on why greater transparency matters, the role of technology in advancing ocean governance, and why the right data, paired with political will, could still help turn the tide.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

As someone who has sailed around the world, what have been the most powerful moments that reinforced your advocacy for marine protection?

I think back to when I sailed around the world during the Jules Verne Trophy in 2015-2016. After a month at sea without seeing land, early one morning, we rounded Cape Horn. The coastline emerged through the mist and the ocean was alive with thousands of seabirds and distant whales. We kept a respectful distance, quietly taking it all in.

Seeing land and life after all that time was one of the most humbling and emotional moments of my life. But the next day, we sailed past industrial fishing vessels, some transmitting radio signals that falsely claimed they were “under sail.” These were no sailboats. That contrast between the beauty of nature followed by the deception of unchecked exploitation stayed with me and revealed how vulnerable the ocean remains, even in the most remote places.

One of the key goals at this year’s UNOC is accelerating progress toward the 30x30 target. What’s currently standing in the way of effective marine protection?

We’re less than five years from the 30×30 target, yet only 8.3% of marine areas are under some form of protection, and just 2.8% are “implemented and highly or fully protected.” This isn’t just a numbers gap — it’s an implementation gap, a political-will gap, and a leadership gap.

Of the 100 largest marine MPAs, which represent nearly 90% of protected ocean, a quarter aren’t implemented and a third still allow harmful activities like bottom trawling. We need to move from pledges to action backed by enforcement, science, and long-term financing.

With elections held in a third of the world’s countries last year, progress is at risk, so we must invest in people. [Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy in partnership with the Sustainable Ocean Alliance] just launched an Ocean Leaders Fellowship to support and train the next generation of young advocates. If we equip them now and act with courage and collaboration, I think 30x30 is still within reach.

One of the ongoing challenges in ocean governance is gaining a clear and reliable picture of what’s really happening at sea. How do you see tools such as  those developed by Global Fishing Watch contributing to that effort?

Our ocean faces unprecedented pressures from biodiversity loss and illegal fishing to expanding industrial activity, all intensified by climate change. Knowing what’s happening, where, and when is essential because without this transparency, enforcement is weak, accountability is limited, and the ocean remains vulnerable.

Not long ago, vast parts of the ocean were protected by their remoteness and harsh conditions. But today, no place is truly out of reach as powerful fleets and global port networks have made even the most remote waters accessible for extraction. Add flagging loopholes and weak enforcement, and it’s clear that technology has outpaced governance.

We cannot protect what we cannot see. Transparency must be the cornerstone of ocean governance, or we risk making decisions in the dark.

Tools like those developed by Global Fishing Watch use satellite data and AI to track vessel activity in near real time. Open access to this data enables governments, scientists, and civil society to act more decisively and responsibly.

You co-founded/created the Marine Manager tool with Global Fishing Watch. Can you tell us about the tool — what sets it apart and how is it improving marine protection on the water?

The idea came after working with partners supporting governments in protecting 13 million square kilometers of ocean. I really felt a responsibility to create something tangible that addressed a long-standing concern: Once designated, MPAs had to be effectively implemented, monitored, and enforced.

I brought the idea to the team at Global Fishing Watch. They embraced the vision and together with their technological expertise, we launched Marine Manager in 2022.

Since then, the portal has been empowering decision-makers and marine managers with real-time data on fishing activity, shipping traffic, biodiversity, sea temperature, and more. It supports the effective design and enforcement of highly and fully protected areas.

Right now, we have 30,000 diverse users across 10 countries, which is helping safeguard over 10 million square kilometers of ocean. But my hope is that more governments around the world will see Marine Manager as a key tool for the achievement of our 30x30 goals and partner with Global Fishing Watch to ensure a sustainable ocean future for all.

Ocean governance is complex and fragmented. How can the High Seas Treaty help close protection gaps and what else is needed to keep pace with growing threats to marine biodiversity?

Improving ocean governance is one of the toughest challenges in marine conservation, especially beyond national borders. These parts of the ocean are called the "high seas.” While they cover nearly half the planet and are vital for biodiversity, they have long lacked a coherent legal framework for protection.

The High Seas Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, known as BBNJ, is a big step towards closing that gap. Once ratified and implemented, it will allow countries to create protected areas in international waters, strengthen environmental impact assessments, and promote fair access to marine resources, knowledge, and technology. And we can’t hit 30×30 without it.

So far, only 21 countries have ratified the treaty, and we need 60 for it to come into force. UNOC is a chance to make progress, and every government has a responsibility to turn ambition into action by ratifying the BBNJ. This applies to all countries, including landlocked ones, because the future of the ocean affects us all.

Young people around the world are stepping up as ocean defenders. What advice would you offer to the next generation of ocean leaders looking to make a difference?

I really want youth to see themselves not just as future leaders, but as change-makers today. And while there’s no single path that I would advise, here are a few values that have guided me:

1. Collaboration: Protecting the ocean takes all of us.

2. Listening: Leadership starts with humility and understanding.

3. Rationality: Build solutions that are holistic, equitable, and grounded in science.

4. Persistence: Real, measurable impact takes time, courage, and care.

Supporting young people to become ocean leaders begins with education: nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and a connection to nature. But just as vital is inclusion. Young people must be heard, because today’s decisions will shape the ocean they inherit.

See the Marine Manager platform in action at globalfishingwatch.org/marine-manager-portal/