Establishing Deep-Sea Marine Protection and Expanded Conservation Coverage in Peru

Peru has taken a major step in marine conservation by designating the Nazca Ridge National Reserve in June 2021, covering approximately 62,392 km² and raising marine protected area (MPA) coverage to around 7–8 percent of its maritime domain. The country is concurrently advancing terrestrial protection (approximately 17 percent of land) and exploring recognition of indigenous and community conservation areas (possible OECMs) to help meet the 30×30 biodiversity target.

Peru’s Path to 30×30 Goals

Peru is among the world’s most biodiverse nations, both on land and at sea, thanks to its location where the upwelling-rich coastal waters support high productivity and a wide variety of marine species. As part of its commitment under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) target to conserve 30 percent of ecosystems by 2030, Peru has taken several concrete steps. On the marine side, a milestone was achieved with the creation of the Nazca Ridge National Reserve (RNDN) in June 2021 via Supreme Decree No. 008-2021-MINAM, a fully marine protected area (MPA) of about 62,392 km², roughly 7 percent of Peru’s maritime domain.

The reserve covers a section of the undersea Nazca Ridge seamount chain off the southern coast, supporting many species including whales and turtles, and features deep-sea habitats that are rare and sensitive. The process leading to its establishment included a multisectoral working group created by the Ministerio del Ambiente (MINAM) in 2019, which compiled scientific data and consulted fishing communities, regional authorities, and civil society over two years. However, while the legal designation marked significant progress in spatial terms, the design and management raise issues: the decree allows pre-existing fishing rights and zones where industrial fishing may continue to depths of 1,000 meters, which some scientists regard as undermining ecological protection.

On land, Peru has achieved about 21.97 percent of territory under protected areas; marine protection still lags, with about 7.9 percent of marine waters under some form of protection. The government is also exploring recognition of indigenous community conservation areas and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to complement MPAs and accelerate progress toward 30×30. Implementation of these approaches is still emerging.

Outcomes and Lessons

Peru’s experience demonstrates that large marine designations can rapidly raise protected-area coverage percentages, offering a major boost toward 30×30. The Nazca Ridge Reserve is a landmark example of scale and ambition. But the case also underscores that formal designation alone is not sufficient, as the integrity of management, exclusion of conflicting uses, and enforcement are key to effectiveness. Permitting industrial fishing inside the reserve may compromise ecological outcomes. Critical lessons include the need for transparent stakeholder processes, alignment of legal protections with ecological objectives, and monitoring and adaptive governance. Recognizing community-governed conservation areas (OECMs) offers a viable supplement to traditional MPAs. For Peru and other countries, linking spatial expansion with management quality, multi-stakeholder engagement, and clear regulations is essential to delivering meaningful biodiversity gains.