The 4th International Marine Protected Area Congress took place from September 4th to 8th in La Serena-Coquimbo, Chile. During the event, over 800 marine conservation professionals and practitioners from all around the world met, exchanged and discussed marine protected areas issues including governance, efficiency, finance and their surface area expansion. With a strong emphasis on people, this event built upon the 2016 Hawai'i Commitments and called to step up ocean conservation and MPA coverage, through increased partnerships and action. Now is the time to act.