An updated list of sea areas with special requirements under the MARPOL Convention, according to circular MEPC.1/Circ.778/Rev.5 dated May 9, 2025:

Special Areas: These are sea areas where special mandatory methods for the prevention of pollution from ships by oil, sewage, or garbage are required due to their oceanographical and ecological conditions and the particular character of their sea traffic. They are defined under MARPOL Annexes I (oil), IV (sewage), and V (garbage).

Under MARPOL Annex I (Oil): Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Gulfs area, Gulf of Aden, Antarctic area, North West European waters, Oman area of the Arabian Sea, Southern South African waters.
Under MARPOL Annex IV (Sewage): Baltic Sea.
Under MARPOL Annex V (Garbage): Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Red Sea, Gulfs area, North Sea, Antarctic area, Wider Caribbean region including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Emission Control Areas (ECAs): These are areas where special mandatory measures to regulate emissions from ships are required to prevent, reduce, and control air pollution from NOx, SOx, and/or particulate matter (PM), and their attendant adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Under MARPOL Annex VI (Air pollution - Emission Control Areas):
SOx: Baltic Sea, North Sea, North America, United States Caribbean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Canadian Arctic, Norwegian Sea.
NOx: Baltic Sea, North Sea, North America, United States Caribbean Sea, Canadian Arctic, Norwegian Sea.

Please note that a new area in the North-Eastern Atlantic is not yet included in this circular, as its adoption is expected only in October.
Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs): These are sea areas needing special protection through action by IMO because of their recognized ecological, socio-economic or scientific attributes which may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities. IMO is the only international body responsible for assessing proposals for and designating PSSAs and adopting associated protective measures (APMs). To date, 17 PSSAs have been designated, including two extensions to existing PSSAs.

Great Barrier Reef Region (with extensions in Torres Strait and South-West Coral Sea).
Archipelago of Sabana-Camaguey.
Sea area around Malpelo Island.
Sea area around the Florida Keys.
Wadden Sea.
Paracas National Reserve.
Western European Waters.
Canary Islands.
Galapagos Archipelago.
Baltic Sea Area.
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Strait of Bonifacio.
Saba Bank (Caribbean Island of Saba).
Jomard Entrance.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
North-Western Mediterranean Sea.
Nusa Penida Islands and Gili Matra Islands in Lombok Strait.

Applicable protective measures (APMs) can include IMO-recommended pilotage systems, mandatory ship reporting systems, areas to be avoided, traffic separation systems, and recommended routes.