MPAs

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

What are Marine Protected areas?

legally secured and set apart “to conserve biodiversity, manage natural resources, protect endangered species, reduce user conflicts, provide educational and research opportunities, and enhance commercial and recreational fisheries.”[[1]]

However, the precise definition of a Marine Protected Areas is still in debate and under review. The ICUN is working to improve the accuracy of the name in order for better consistency. The definition is crucial in that it is not meant just to categorize the area, but to direct management and conservation objectives. In fact, due to lack of specificity in the definition about 50% of MPA's are considered to have been wrongly allocated. [2]

The Most recent standing Definition

Location

How to determine location:

When selecting areas for protection of marine reserves, it is important to consider the sources and sinks, dispersal range, and metapopulations.

Where MPa's are located:

According to estimates from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre’s Protected Areas Database, there are about 400 MPA's across the globe. However, this number in comparison to the terrestrial protected areas, is lacking. In fact, over 40 countries do not have any coral reef formal protection. This is important to note because MPA's work best when integrated into a comprehensive network and global cooperation that views the marine ecosystem as a whole. So far action has mainly been determined by national policy and importance.

International Conventions

Effort Organizations

ICUN and the Marine and Polar Network

GOBI Seamounts Project

Effects of Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected not only a recovery and conservation of a healthy ocean, they also provide a wide range of ecosystem services.

Secure human population nourishment
Reduce destruction from Natural Disaster
Beneficial to Tourism 
local governance and benefits if community managed
Improve Health and alleviate poverty [3]

Studies have shown that “no take” marine protected areas, not only double the amount of fish but also their size, in a very short period of time. They also serve as safe breeding grounds for key threatened species, such as whales and marine turtles, whilst protecting a variety of marine ecosystems and the rich biodiversity they sustain. [4]

The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans found in a survey of more than 100 marine reserves worldwide that - 446% average increase in biomass of animals and plants - 166% average increase in number of plants or animals - 1,000% increase in biomass and populations density of heavily fished species - 28% average increase in body size of animals - 21% average increase in species density [5]

Notes

1. Waitt Foundation 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.