Scientists call for urgent reform of ‘outdated’ rules blocking marine restoration

In a , 25 researchers and practitioners from 18 countries - including Professor Jo Preston of the  Institute of Marine Sciences  at the ǿ����Ƶ - argue that the very regulations intended to protect marine life are stalling the projects designed to revive it.

From coral reefs to mangroves, seagrass meadows to salt marshes, marine habitats are vanishing at alarming rates. The world has already lost at least 20 per cent of seagrass meadows, more than a third of mangrove forests and up to half of salt marshes. Global initiatives, such as the  and the , have set ambitious targets to restore 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems by 2030. However, the authors warn that current licensing procedures are preventing progress toward these goals.

Professor Jo Preston said: “We cannot afford to let red tape strangle solutions. Licensing should support innovation, resilience and long-term recovery, not force us to recreate an impossible past. If we are serious about restoring ocean health, we need a system that keeps pace with science and with the speed of climate change.”

The authors stress that they are not calling for deregulation, but for evidence-based, adaptive licensing that supports innovation and long-term resilience. Without reform, international commitments to restore marine ecosystems risk falling short.

The paper proposes six key changes: embracing innovative techniques such as assisted migration and genetic tools; creating “innovation sandpits” where new methods can be trialled; setting up designated restoration zones with streamlined approvals; mandating transparent reporting of both successes and failures; aligning permits with long-term ecological timescales; and removing licensing fees in favour of incentives.

Marine restoration, unlike its land-based counterpart, is still a young science. Failures are common but, the authors argue, essential for learning. With oceans facing critical tipping points, they say policy must adapt to allow experimentation and risk-taking rather than blocking it.

Lead author  from Swansea University said: “The very regulations meant to protect marine life are often blocking the projects designed to restore it. We urgently need smarter, more flexible systems that encourage innovation rather than stifle it.”

Dr Elizabeth Lacey from Project Seagrass added: “We have a narrow window to turn the tide on ocean decline. Smarter permitting could be the key to unlocking large-scale restoration at the speed the planet needs.”

The researchers warn that without reform, global promises to restore coastal and marine ecosystems risk going unfulfilled, with profound consequences for biodiversity, human livelihoods and planetary health.

Key Findings from the study:

• Marine restoration is young: Unlike land-based restoration, the science is still developing, and failures are common, but these failures are essential for learning.
• Regulations hinder progress: Permits are often slow, costly, or impossible to obtain, even for projects that would clearly benefit ecosystems.
• Climate change demands new thinking: Restoration must create resilient ecosystems for the future, not simply recreate the past.
• Equity matters: Indigenous and local communities must be included to ensure projects are fair and effective.