A landmark decision at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress set the stage for the creation of one of the world’s most ambitious marine protected areas.

With an overwhelming majority vote of 96.5% in favour, delegates approved a motion spearheaded by Loro Parque Fundación to establish the Macaronesia Sanctuary – a transnational Marine Protected Area spanning the waters of the Canary Islands, the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde.

The move marks the culmination of more than four decades of advocacy and scientific work by Loro Parque Fundación, founded by Wolfgang Kiessling, and inspired by early collaboration with German marine mammal scientist Petra Deimer.

Home to 32 species of cetaceans – 84% of those found in the North Atlantic – the Macaronesia region serves as a critical corridor for migrating whales and dolphins. The new Sanctuary aims to protect these species and their habitats from increasing pressures, including maritime traffic, underwater noise, industrial fishing, and the looming threat of deep-sea mining.

“The Macaronesia Sanctuary represents a shared aspiration between science, institutions, and society,” said Kiessling. “Its approval by the IUCN demonstrates that international cooperation remains the most powerful tool we have to safeguard ocean biodiversity.”

For Javier Almunia, Scientific Advisor to Loro Parque Fundación, the vote is a validation of long-term dedication: “This approval is an international milestone that reinforces our commitment to ocean conservation. The overwhelming support we’ve seen inspires us to work closely with the governments of Spain, Portugal, and Cape Verde to bring the Sanctuary to life.”

The proposed Sanctuary builds on a strong foundation of academic collaboration. In 2024, all public universities across Macaronesia – including those in the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands – signed the Marine Biodiversity Manifesto, a research and training alliance promoted by Loro Parque Fundación to support marine conservation initiatives in the region.

Since its founding, the Fundación has invested over USD 29 million in more than 300 conservation projects worldwide, contributing to the recovery of 18 species once on the brink of extinction – among them the iconic Lear’s Macaw.

With the IUCN’s backing, the Macaronesia Sanctuary is poised to become a model for international marine governance – blending science, policy, and community engagement to ensure the long-term survival of the Atlantic’s rich biodiversity.

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