# Ocean protection quality is lagging behind quantity: Applying a scientific framework to assess real marine protected area progress against the 30 by 30 target

*PRI Rank #3 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/coral-and-marine-ecosystems-studies/2026/rank-3*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #3 |
| 18m citations | 53 |
| Journal | Conservation Letters |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1111/conl.13020 |
| Corresponding authors | Elizabeth P. Pike |
| Institution | Marine Conservation Institute  Seattle Washington USA, United States |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/coral-and-marine-ecosystems-studies/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1111/conl.13020](https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13020)

## Topics

30x30 biodiversity target · Marine Protected Areas · MPA Guide framework · MPA quality assessment · MPA implementation gaps · fully protected MPAs · highly protected MPAs · high-impact activities in MPAs · MPA coverage metrics · biodiversity loss reversal · Marine ecosystems · ecoregion distribution analysis · remote and overseas territories · Anthropogenic impacts · MPA regulations and management · global MPA network · conservation outcomes · largest 100 MPAs by area

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/coral-and-marine-ecosystems-studies/2026. Accessed 2026-10-29.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```