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. Due to the vague classification Marine protected widely vary by habitats, including the open ocean, coastal areas, inter-tidal zones, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs and Lakes. [2] Furthermore, MPA's vary widely in "conservation focus, level of protection, permanence of protection, constancy of protection, and ecological scale of protection." [3]

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. [4]

The Most recent standing Definition

MPA's were created to alleviate the negative human interaction that causes stress on marine ecosystems. These include, overfishshing or destructive fishing, coastal development,pollution and runoff, introduction of non-native species, climate change warming seas and ocean acidification.

Unlike common misconception, most MPAs are not completely closed to humans or prohibit fishing

There are several different types with varying levels of conservation and management regulations

MPAs can occur on the federal, state, tribal, or international level and were first established in the U.S. in May 2000 by Executive Order 13158[5]

Importance of MPAs [6]

Many marine ecosystems are threatened by human activity and will not be able to support themselves without intervention

The global fish catch has been in decline

MPAs maintain biodiversity and fish breeding stocks

They replenish exploited populations

They support local economies through sustainable fishing and the promotion of ecotourism

Characteristics of MPAs [7]

The National Marine Protected Areas Center has five characteristics to evaluate MPAs:

1. Conservation focus

2. Level of protection

3. Permanence of protection

4. Consistency of protection

5. Ecological scale of protection

Management and Regulation

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) uses different categories to protect marine areas [8]

1. Strict Nature Reserve: maximum protection, less than 1%

2. Wilderness area

3. National park (Marine Park): minimal human use, large emphasis on conservation

4. National monument or feature: protect historical or cultural marine sites

5. Habitat/species management area

6. Protected landscape/seascape: more limited regulation

7. Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources

Types of MPAs [9]

MPAs are defined by their level of protection and use the above IUCN guidelines

Types of MPAs include:

1. Uniform Multiple-Use: restrict some activities, most common

2. Zoned Multiple-Use: allow different human activities in different areas

3. Zoned Multiple-Use with No-Take Areas: includes one zone where resources cannot be removed

4. No-Take: allow human activity but prohibit removing resources

5. No Impact: allow human activity but prohibit all those that could be potentially harmful

6. No Access: prohibit all human activity; extremely rare

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. The ideal arrangement is for a highly protected core area surrounded by a buffer zone. This can be achieved either as a large zoned MPA, or as a set of small MPAs with complementary regulations controlling use of the surrounding areas. Also, consideration of the local needs and livelihood of the people is important to implement an effected area rather than a disrespected one. The ICUN published a set of Criteria used to aid in developing MPA's

•	Biogeographic criteria
 Presence of rare biogeographic qualities or representative of a biogeographic “type” or types
 Existence of unique or unusual geological features
•	Ecological criteria
 Ecological processes or life-support systems (e.g. as a source for larvae for downstream areas)
 Integrity, or the degree to which the area, either alone or in association with other protected
 areas, encompasses a complete ecosystem
 The variety of habitats
 Presence of habitat for rare or endangered species
 Presence of nursery or juvenile areas
 Presence of feeding, breeding or rest areas
 Existence of rare or unique habitat for any species
 Degree of genetic diversity within species
•	Naturalness
 Extent to which the area has been protected from, or has not been subject to, human-induced
 change
•	Economic importance
 Existing or potential economic contribution due to protection (e.g. protection of an area for
 recreation, subsistence, use by traditional inhabitants, appreciation by tourists and others, or as a
refuge nursery area or source of economically important species)
•	Social importance
 Existing or potential value to local, national or international communities because of its
 heritage, historical, cultural, traditional, aesthetic, educational or recreational qualities
•	Scientific importance
 Value for research and monitoring
•	International or national significance
 Existence of any national or international designation
 Potential for listing on a national or international system
•	Practicality or feasibility
 Degree of insulation from external destructive influences
 Social and political acceptability, degree of community support
 Accessibility for education, tourism, recreation
 Compatibility with existing uses, particularly by locals
 Ease of management or compatibility with existing management regimes

[www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/64732.pdf]

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. This number in comparison to the terrestrial protected areas, is lacking. The amount of protection, covering less than 2% of the ocean, is not enough to combat the immense damage and stress. 150 of MPAs are less than one square kilometer in size and likely that less than 3 percent of the world’s coral reefs are protected. 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.[10]

International Conventions Sites by region (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern Oceans)

Effort Organizations and what they do

ICUN and the Marine and Polar Network

GOBI

Seamounts Project

UNEP

Effects of Marine Protected Areas

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. [11]

The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans found in a survey of more than 100 marine reserves worldwide found a 446% average increase in biomass and a 166% increase in number of animals and plants. Also noted was an average increase in body size of sea life by 28% as well as an increase in species density by 21%[12]

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 [13]

Suggestions/Solutions

Global action

Connected MPAs (example: California)

Work with and educate local fisherman on the benefits of MPAs