{
  "title": "The ten largest marine protected areas in the world, by area",
  "publisher": "Ocean Climate Fund",
  "as_of": "2026-11-12",
  "notes": "Areas follow the World Database on Protected Areas as compiled in Wikipedia's list of largest protected areas, updated with French Polynesia's 2025 designation; sources differ by a few percent. strict_km2 is given only where a source states it; strict_label describes the rest.",
  "mpas": [
    {"rank": 1, "name": "Tainui Atea", "jurisdiction": "French Polynesia (France)", "area_km2": 4800000, "designated": "2025", "strict_km2": 1086000, "strict_label": "About 1.09 million km² highly or fully protected", "status": "Announced at UNOC 2025; strict zones being expanded", "source": "https://icriforum.org/french-polynesia-largest-mpa/"},
    {"rank": 2, "name": "Marae Moana", "jurisdiction": "Cook Islands", "area_km2": 1981965, "designated": "2017", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Small share", "status": "Mostly multiple-use, whole EEZ", "source": "https://bigoceanmanagers.org/marae"},
    {"rank": 3, "name": "French Southern Territories National Nature Reserve", "jurisdiction": "France", "area_km2": 1600000, "designated": "2016, extended 2022", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Includes about 255,000 km² highly protected around Saint Paul and Amsterdam", "status": "Implemented", "source": "https://overseas-association.eu/the-french-southern-territories-national-nature-reserve-becomes-the-second-largest-marine-protected-area-in-the-world"},
    {"rank": 4, "name": "Ross Sea Region MPA", "jurisdiction": "High seas (CCAMLR)", "area_km2": 1550000, "designated": "2016", "strict_km2": 1120000, "strict_label": "1.12 million km² fully protected (72%)", "status": "Implemented; 35-year term", "source": "https://www.mfat.govt.nz/vn/environment/antarctica-and-the-southern-ocean/ross-sea-region-marine-protected-area"},
    {"rank": 5, "name": "Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument", "jurisdiction": "United States", "area_km2": 1508846, "designated": "2006, expanded 2016", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Formerly all no-take", "status": "Parts reopened to commercial fishing, 2026", "source": "https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/trump-tears-up-protections-across-three-pacific-marine-monuments/"},
    {"rank": 6, "name": "Natural Park of the Coral Sea", "jurisdiction": "New Caledonia (France)", "area_km2": 1292967, "designated": "2014", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Small share", "status": "Criticised as under-enforced", "source": "https://geographical.co.uk/science-environment/the-10-largest-marine-protected-areas"},
    {"rank": 7, "name": "Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument", "jurisdiction": "United States", "area_km2": 1270480, "designated": "2009", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Reduced", "status": "Commercial fishing reopened 50 to 200 nautical miles out, 2025", "source": "https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/fishery-council-lifts-fishing-ban-in-marianas-trench-and-other-federally-protected-waters"},
    {"rank": 8, "name": "South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands MPA", "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom", "area_km2": 1240000, "designated": "2012", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Partial no-take", "status": "Implemented", "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_protected_areas"},
    {"rank": 9, "name": "Coral Sea Marine Park", "jurisdiction": "Australia", "area_km2": 989836, "designated": "2018", "strict_km2": null, "strict_label": "Partial", "status": "Multiple-use zoning", "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_protected_areas"},
    {"rank": 10, "name": "Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve", "jurisdiction": "United Kingdom", "area_km2": 834334, "designated": "2016", "strict_km2": 834334, "strict_label": "Fully protected", "status": "Implemented; borders the Gambier strict zone", "source": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_protected_areas"}
  ]
}