MPA Day 2025

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. This year's theme is "Ocean Protection Needs Human Connection".

Find out more information here about the upcoming MPA Day Events that will be taking place from July - August 2025 around the world.