Identifying National System Conservation Gaps
Identifying conservation gaps is a critical step towards achieving the conservation objectives of the national system. These gaps are areas in the ocean and Great Lakes that meet priority conservation objectives of the national system, but that are not currently or adequately protected to ensure their long-term viability. The MPA Center will work collaboratively with partners in each region to complete a gap analysis for U.S. marine ecosystems. This process will result in information about marine areas within each region that are important to marine conservation and could benefit from additional protection. These gap analyses can be used by existing federal, state, tribal and local MPA programs and other ocean and coastal managers to guide future efforts to establish new MPAs, strengthen existing ones, or take other protection measures.
Process for Identifying Conservation Gaps:
Baseline of Spatial Protection of Priority Conservation Objectives
Establishing a baseline of current spatial protection efforts and how they relate to the national system’s priority conservation objectives is the first step in the gap analysis process. To do this, the MPA Center will convene regional scientific experts on marine resources to produce maps of areas that contribute to the priority conservation objectives. Examples include areas that are key reproduction and nursery grounds for marine species, or areas with cultural and/or historic resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The product from this phase will be maps of important species, habitats, cultural resources and ecosystems that contribute to the national system goals and priority conservation objectives.
Gap Analysis
Once the regional baseline has been established, the MPA Center will work with partners in each region through a transparent, science-based process to identify gaps in our collective efforts to fully achieve the national system’s conservation objectives. The product from this phase will be regional maps showing the priority areas for conservation. The gap analysis process will include:
- Analysis of the contribution of existing MPAs and other conservation measures;
- Information on ocean uses and their impacts;
- Stakeholder input on regional gaps;
- Involvement by federal, state, tribal and local ocean and coastal managers; and
- Review and recommendations from the MPA Federal Advisory Committee.
The gap analysis process will begin on the West Coast (California, Washington, and Oregon) in 2009-10. Gap analyses will be initiated in other regions as resources and partnership opportunities allow.
As they are completed, regional conservation gap analyses will be made available to federal, state, tribal and local MPA programs to assist them with their planning and priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to identify conservation gaps?
Conservation can be used by existing federal, state, tribal and local MPA managing entities and others to guide their future efforts to establish new or strengthen existing MPAs using their independent authorities, processes or other management tools. Additionally, the gaps identified will be used to facilitate regional planning and collaboration.
How will the conservation gap information be used?
Regional conservation gap analyses will be made available to federal, state, tribal and local MPA programs to assist them with their planning and priorities. While the publication of these conservation gaps is a major step toward building a comprehensive national system, significant additional evaluation of these gaps and other information will likely be needed by agencies prior to any resulting establishment of new MPAs or changes to existing MPA’s governance.
Links
MPA Executive Order 13158
Framework for the National System of MPAs
Priority Conservation Objectives Fact Sheet
Definition of Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas Inventory
Fact Sheets
Frequently Asked Questions about MPAs
Archive: Developing the National System of MPAs
For More Information
mpainfo@noaa.gov
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