Denmark has become the latest country to release plans for expanding its marine protected areas (MPAs) to ensure more than 30% of its ocean will be protected by the end of the decade.

The government, backed by all opposition parties in parliament, on Wednesday released Denmark’s Ocean Plan, which seeks to expand MPAs to 31.7% of the country’s ocean area by 2030.

Around a third of that – 10% – will be fully protected, up from around 6% currently, the environment ministry announced.

“With this agreement we are taking a big step in the right direction,” Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement.

The plan will help ensure Denmark does its share of the EU goal to protect 30% of the bloc’s ocean area by 2030, a target aligned with that of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was agreed in Montreal last December.

Denmark’s 31.7% protected areas will include a 260,000-hectare bird protection area in Oestlige Tyskebukt in the North Sea.

However, the environment ministry said that following discussions with the European Commission the government had decided that that the Horns Rev I-III offshore wind farms already operating within the protected zone will be kept, as the government believes they can co-exist with the birds.

As well, the marine areas from which Denmark allows natural resources extraction will be reduced to 5% from 7% currently.

“It is crucial for the government that our green ambitions for nature, environment, and climate don’t disrupt each other. It is positive that there is a possibility that offshore wind and birds in the area can co-exist, so that we can protect the many migratory birds passing through Denmark and continue our transition to green energy,” Henicke said.

Denmark has earmarked spending of DKK75 million ($10.8 mln) towards MPA extensions in the years to 2030.

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