In May of 2023, the Maui Nui Makai Network held a Canoe People’s Exchange with members from the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, We Are Oceania, and guests from the Kai Kuleana Network on Hawai’i Island. This impactful event focused on connecting with Indigenous cultures that hold values and traditions founded in the ocean. A traditional ceremony and food allowed participants to build and strengthen the bond over their shared Indigenous history and collective efforts to restore the health of our waters.

In 2023, Mystic Aquarium hosted a 3-part series of conversations, “Amplifying Diverse Perspectives in Conservation” to learn from Tribal and BIPOC communities in Southern New England about their work in the community and its connection to modern day conservation. These conversations highlighted relevant ocean conservation issues important to the community, which included marine protected areas, and provided a space to explore interests and opportunities, and discuss ways to engage and respect sovereign rights of Tribes.

On February 28, 2024, the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary was declared a Mission Blue Hope Spot. This first Tribally-nominated marine sanctuary would permanently protect over 7,000 square miles of irreplaceable ocean ecosystems and would help to preserve Chumash cultural heritage. This collaboration between the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and Mission Blue highlights the importance of designating the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in 2024 to permanently protect this sacred coastline.

In 2023, the Friends of the Mariana Trench hosted an Indigenous-led 30x30 panel discussion, which aimed to improve community knowledge of the goal to protect 30% of land and water by 2030, the value of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and what these conservation initiatives look like locally for native residents of the Northern Mariana Islands. The discussion assisted in reaching an Indigenous-led consensus on approach, mechanisms, and ownership.

The Protect Pacific Remote Islands Coalition is championing an effort to expand, rename, and engage Pacific Islanders in managing the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRI). This area boasts a rich history of oceanic voyaging and the heroic efforts of the Hui Panalā'au in WWII, and is home to some of the last healthy ocean ecosystems on our planet.

EarthEcho International recently launched the 2022-23 OceanEcho 30x30 Fellowship, equipping youth leaders with the training and resources to mobilize their peers and communities to support local ocean protections and achieve the goal of protecting at least 30% of America’s waters by 2030.

The Wildlife Conservation Society is leading the community effort to designate Hudson Canyon as a new National Marine Sanctuary, protecting a deep-sea canyon and 100’s of species off the coast of New York and New Jersey. Conservation organizations, recreational interests, maritime industries, cultural institutions, community-based organizations, faith leaders, artists, over 40,000 members of the public and bipartisan Members of Congress support the effort to secure an enduring conservation legacy.

Environment America Research & Policy Center is dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. Their recent report shows that marine 'wildlife refuges' are effective tools for conserving and reviving ocean ecosystems and helping marine life gain a foothold on survival. To restore our oceans to health, we need to protect more ocean places.