Science and Analysis

Humans’ link to the oceans has been essential to our survival. We rely on the marine ecosystem for food, jobs, recreation, relaxation, transportation, security, and study. Because we can’t necessarily see all the riches that lie beneath the water’s surface, there is much we don’t understand about how species and habitats are interconnected. Just as we are curious about exploring the universe around us, we are equally fascinated by the sometimes mysterious cycle of life in our marine environments, and how it impacts us. Because of this curiosity, humans are driven to discover as much as possible about our natural world and how we interact with its resources.

One issue that has been a popular topic of debate is how to use marine protected areas (MPAs) to conserve our natural and cultural marine resources. One of the big questions people often ask about MPAs is whether or not they really work. This question leads us to look at existing scientific research, from both natural and social science, to see what that research is saying about MPAs on a national level. Since the MPA Center was established in 2001, it has been using science and analysis to assess the nature of MPAs and their use in sustaining healthy marine ecosystems. This has been especially essential to the MPA Center’s work to develop a national system of MPAs.

In partnership with other government agencies, the MPA Center has focused its scientific priorities on analyzing gaps in existing MPAs and their features, characterizing how marine resources are currently being protected, and facilitating the sharing of scientific knowledge and products related to these resources.

The following are areas of scientific focus for the MPA Center. Click on each link to read more.

Cultural and Historic MPA Resources
Marine protected areas can encompass an area that has been set aside because a ship, aircraft, or other cultural artifact rests on or is embedded within the sea floor. The knowledge gained through careful research and analysis of historical artifacts scattered throughout our oceans and Great Lakes is fundamental to understanding our heritage. By continuing to preserve, protect, and respect these non-renewable resources, we can ensure that our nation’s cultural resources are available for future generations.
Read more.

Social Science
Human communities are tied to marine environments in many ways. The coasts and oceans provide people with numerous goods and services that meet social, cultural, and economic needs. We harvest fish and shellfish for subsistence, commercial, and recreational use. We rely on our waterways for commerce, trade, and navigation. We use our natural resources for energy production, construction, and scientific research. We are drawn to the shores and beaches for tourism, leisure, and spiritual and cultural renewal. Understanding how people use coastal and ocean environments is a critical need for ecosystem approaches to management. The way people interact with the marine environment has implications for the health and well-being of both the human communities and the resources on which they depend.
Read more.

Ecology (Natural Science)
Our natural marine environments hold a plethora of inter-connected species and habitats that rely on each other for health and survival. In the U.S., a vast range of ecosystems of many sizes hold wonders that are unique and often mysterious. Our oceans, bays, and Great Lakes are full of diverse plants, animals, and ecosystems that, in most cases, we are just beginning to understand.
Read about the Ecological Characterization Project.

Analysis of the Nation’s Marine Managed Areas
Using marine managed area data collected from federal, state, and territories, the MPA Center has completed a preliminary analysis, the first of its kind in the nation. Some interesting facts and trends have been revealed by this analysis. For example, of more than 1,500 areas in the U.S., 90 percent allow access and multiple uses, such as fishing. In addition, federal sties generally are larger but most are established and managed by state agencies, most are permanent and provide year-round protection, and most were established since 1970. The MPA Center plans to continue analyzing the data in more detail across different spatial scales and levels of government as it begins the process to develop a national system of marine protected areas.
Read more about the results of the analysis.

Inventory of U.S. Marine Protected Areas
Drawing from data collected through the analysis of the nation's marine managed areas, the MPA Center has created a comprehensive and inclusive inventory of federal, state and territorial place-based marine conservation efforts in the U.S. The Marine Protected Areas Inventory (MPA Inventory) provides baseline information that will contribute to the development of the National System of MPAs, as defined in the Executive Order. The MPA Inventory also serves as a valuable resource for agencies, managers, scientists, non-governmental organizations, resource users, and the interested public to better understand numerous characteristics about these sites, such as management capabilities, resources protected, and evaluation processes. Read more about the MPA Inventory.

GIS and Remote Sensing
In order to manage the complex issues affecting the nation's MPAs, managers often turn to technology for help in understanding and analyzing the resources and environments of their MPAs. MPA managers and scientists are increasingly using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing to map and analyze the resources under their jurisdiction.
Read more about GIS and Remote Sensing.

The West Coast Pilot
The MPA Center is leading a collaborative initiative to pilot key methods and approaches for developing a regional system of MPAs on the west coast (California, Oregon, and Washington). This involves developing, testing, and applying analytical tools, and gathering the best information, including science-based data and traditional ecological knowledge, to better understand how to more effectively use MPAs to sustain healthy marine environments. The West Coast Pilot is an unprecedented effort that requires core partnerships among the region’s federal, state, and tribal government agencies. Key NOAA partners include the National Marine Sanctuary Program, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, and Fisheries. In addition, the participation of the following regional partners is instrumental to the effort’s success: the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service; the National Estuarine Research Reserves System; the Pacific Fishery Management Council; tribes; states; academic institutions; and non-governmental organizations.
Read more about the West Coast Pilot.