Experts hope to triple marine protections by 2030 to distribute conservation more equally between land and sea. The main tool being used to increase marine protections is establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are designated by national governments. In the early 1990s the International Maritime Organization (IMO) established the PSSA program to define vulnerable marine areas that could benefit from global protection. Shipping is a threat to vulnerable areas for many reasons, including the following:Wastewater pollutionPhysical damage (Groundings, trawling, etc.) By increasing the scope and enforcement of PSSAs, the program can become a more meaningful tool for protecting marine ecosystems.