James Borton is the Editor-in-Chief of the South China Sea NewsWire. His most recent book, Harvesting the Waves: How Blue Parks Shape Policy, Politics, and Peacebuilding in the South China Sea, was published in May 2025. This interview took place on June 9, 2025.
SCSNW: Why are marine protected areas considered essential tools for conserving marine biodiversity and restoring overexploited fish populations?
JB: Marine protected areas (MPAs) are the underwater havens where nature hits the reset button—offering sanctuary for marine life to rebound, reproduce, and thrive without dodging nets or pollution. Think of them as biodiversity vaults: teeming with life, they safeguard fragile ecosystems and give overfished species the breathing room they need to stage a spectacular comeback. Despite bold promises, the world is still drifting far from the “30×30” target—to protect 30% of oceans by 2030—and time is running out. Only about 8% of the seas are currently under some form of protection, and much of that lacks proper enforcement or ecological impact. This shortfall means critical ecosystems remain exposed to overfishing, pollution, and climate chaos, weakening the ocean’s ability to regulate the planet’s climate and sustain life. Falling short on 30×30 isn’t just a broken pledge—it’s a gamble with the future of the blue heart of our planet.
SCSNW: How do MPAs contribute to the resilience of ocean ecosystems in the face of climate change and human activity?
JB: Marine protected areas act like shock absorbers for the ocean—buffering ecosystems from the relentless pressures of climate change, overfishing, and pollution. By preserving biodiversity hotspots and nurturing healthy habitats, MPAs boost nature’s ability to adapt, recover, and keep the ocean’s life-support systems humming even in turbulent times. They’re not just conservation zones—they’re climate insurance for the seas.
SCSNW: What makes the Mediterranean Sea a valuable case study for understanding how nations can collaborate on managing shared marine resources despite political and jurisdictional disputes?
JB: The Mediterranean Sea, cradled by over 20 nations with wildly different politics, cultures, and coastlines, is a real-life laboratory for international cooperation. Despite tangled jurisdictions and centuries-old rivalries, countries here are increasingly joining forces to protect shared marine treasures—from migratory tuna to seagrass meadows. Regional agreements and cross-border marine protected areas show how diplomacy can dive deep, proving that collective action can trump conflict when the health of a sea is at stake. It’s a salty testament to the power of unity in an ocean of division.
SCSNW: Explain how the Mediterranean Action Plan is effective in addressing overfishing and may offer guidance to the South China Sea?
JB: The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) proves that even in politically fragmented regions, nations can come together to manage shared seas through coordinated science, monitoring, and policy. In the South China Sea—where overfishing is rapidly depleting fish stocks amid territorial disputes—MAP offers a model for joint fisheries management, standardized data sharing, and region-wide no-take zones. By emulating MAP’s ecosystem-based approach and multilateral dialogue, countries in the South China Sea could shift from a zero-sum scramble for dwindling resources to a cooperative system that sustains fish populations and livelihoods. It’s not just about diplomacy—it’s about giving the ocean, and its fishers, a fighting chance.
SCSNW: In what ways can lessons learned from governance and cooperation in the Mediterranean Sea be applied to other contested transboundary marine regions around the world?
JB: The Mediterranean’s patchwork of political borders and overlapping claims has forced nations to get creative—and cooperative—when it comes to managing shared marine resources. From joint surveillance of illegal fishing to region-wide agreements on marine protected areas, the Med offers a blueprint for turning geopolitical friction into functional governance. These lessons—like the power of science-backed diplomacy, regional frameworks, and local stakeholder engagement—can ripple outward to other hot spots like the South China Sea or the Arctic, where cooperation is just as crucial but far less common. In short, the Mediterranean shows that even in crowded, contested waters, unity isn’t just possible—it’s essential.
