Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are valuable tools for conserving the nation's natural and cultural marine resources as part of an ecosystem approach to management. The United States has many types of MPAs for many purposes, including conservation of natural heritage, cultural heritage and sustainable production. Learn more about the national effort to build an effective national system of marine protected areas.

WHAT'S NEW?
	MPA Center Seeks Nominations for Federal Advisory Committee New and Improved MPA Inventory Online Now!

DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF MPAs
	Download the Revised Draft Framework Next Steps for Developing the National System of MPAs First analysis of place-based conservation in U.S. waters

WEST COAST PILOT PROJECT
	West Coast Pilot -- tools, methods and information to build the National System Analysis of place-based conservation in West Coast waters MPA Center's science & analysis efforts

OTHER RESOURCES AND NEWS
	MPA Center and Office of Coast Survey working to add MPAs to navigational charts Presidential Statement Highlights North American Network of MPAs

State of the Nation's De Facto Marine Protected Areas

De facto Marine Protected Areas (DFMPAs) are areas of the ocean where access and/or use are restricted for reasons other than conservation. Familiar examples include: military installations, anchoring sites, navigational channels, and oil and gas transfer areas. Like the more traditional, conservation-based Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), DFMPAs can provide conservation benefits by limiting activities that may damage marine habitats, or reducing access to ecologically-sensitive areas.

The MPA Center’s newly released report “State of the Nation’s De Facto Marine Protected Areas,” presents results from the first ever synthesis of information on the location, purpose, and restrictions for all federal DFMPAs in the U.S.

Significant findings include:

More than 1,200 DFMPAs are located in and cover 3% of U.S. waters
The majority (94%) do not restrict human uses
DFMPAs range in size from less than one acre to more than 40,000 km2

For more findings, and to view the complete report, click here.

Revised September 15, 2008 by the MPA Webmaster.
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