All About Marine Protected Areas
All About Marine Protected Areas: The Basics
Why do MPAs Matter?
Increasing impacts on the world’s oceans, caused by development,
pollution, overfishing, and natural events, strain the health of our
coastal and marine ecosystems. Some of these impacts can include decreased
or damaged fish populations, bleached corals, threatened or endangered
species, or limited job opportunities. Marine protected areas (MPAs)
are one type of ocean management that, when used effectively, help ensure
healthy oceans. They may also protect historic artifacts such as shipwrecks
that could otherwise be damaged by handling or theft.
Marine protected areas:
• Provide recreation and economic opportunities for millions of
Americans.
• Help sustain critical habitats and marine resources for future
generations to enjoy.
• Act as an “insurance policy” by helping protect
marine resources from human impacts.
Why is there so much confusion over MPAs?
The variety of names and uses of marine protected areas has led to confusion
over what the term really means and where MPAs are used.
You may have heard the term “marine reserve” used in association
with, or in place of, “marine protected area.” Marine reserves
refer specifically to no-take areas, where removing or destroying natural
or cultural resources is prohibited. While all marine reserves are MPAs,
not all MPAs are marine reserves. Marine reserves are rare in the United
States. In fact, less than 1 percent of U.S. waters are no-take areas.
To add to the confusion, MPAs with similar sounding names may have
different goals. Federal and state agencies may use the same MPA-related
term, such as “conservation area” or “sanctuary,”
but activities in those areas may be regulated differently based on
the agency’s definition or purpose for that area. This complex
level of definitions and establishment purposes underscores the need
for basic understanding about how MPAs can be an effective ecosystem
management tool.
Who Establishes and Manages MPAs?
Marine protected areas are established at all levels of government for
different purposes and are managed by various agencies through legislative
acts.
Federal: Two agencies are the primary managers of federal MPAs. The
Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
manages national marine sanctuaries, fishery management zones, and,
in partnership with states, national estuarine research reserves. The
Department of the Interior manages MPAs through national parks and national
wildlife refuges.
States/Territories: States, territories, and commonwealths establish
MPAs (including areas in the Great Lakes) for various purposes. Each
state and territory has various bureaus, departments, and divisions
that regulate the environment, manage fisheries, manage lands, and regulate
commerce. In fact, there are more than 100 state agencies that designate
and manage MPAs.
Tribes: Sovereign land rights allow some tribal authorities to designate
areas or co-manage areas with states.
Local: Some local efforts feed into federal processes. For example,
in response to local requests, the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council adopted closures to protect deep coral habitats in Alaska’s
Aleutian Islands.
Other efforts are approved through local support and voluntary behavior
but are not authorized by legislation. For example, a network of local,
county-based marine resources committees was established in each of
the seven Northwest Straits counties in Washington to protect and restore
marine resources.
What are some overarching U.S. MPA efforts?
Currently, about 100 federal, state, territory, and tribal agencies
manage more than 1,500 marine areas across the country. Due to this
large number of agencies and sites, the United States does not have
a coordinated strategy to comprehensively understand the ecological
and human connections, jurisdiction, or the public’s role in managing
the diverse range of MPAs. In order to improve the nation’s ability
to understand and analyze its marine resources, a Presidential Executive
Order was established in 2000 to request that the nation develop a national
system of MPAs. The Executive Order calls for a national system that
is based on a strong scientific foundation and that protects both natural
and cultural marine resources. The National Marine Protected Areas Center
is leading this effort, in collaboration with federal agencies, states
and territories, tribes, fishery management councils, advisory committees,
non-governmental organizations and associations, industry, coastal communities,
and other members of the public. Input from government and non-government
partners and communities is essential to planning what sites the national
system should include and how to implement the system.
How can I participate in MPA decisions?
You don’t have to live near the ocean to appreciate that many
human activities impact our oceans, both economically and ecologically.
Whether you’re a farmer, fisherman, diver, kayaker, resident of
a coastal community, or you just love the ocean, you have an incentive
to get involved in decisions about marine protected areas. Your involvement
is essential, and helps ensure that MPAs are effective.
Finally:
Remember, marine resources are public resources. Government agencies
manage resources in the public interest. You play a part in monitoring,
restoring, and conserving our natural and cultural resources for present
and future generations.
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