MPA Programs

• Federal
• State/Territorial
• Tribal
• International

MPA Programs

  > About MPAs  > MPA Programs

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A variety of national and international government programs, agencies, and legislation manage, monitor, or establish the nation's marine protected areas (MPAs).

Federal MPA Programs and Agencies

Many programs within the U.S. federal government have specific mandates to establish and manage protected areas in the oceans and Great Lakes. Both the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior establish, manage, monitor, and evaluate MPAs under various legislative authorities. This section provides examples of federal MPA programs under various agencies, and provides links to relevant program sites. You may also read more about some legislation that authorizes federal agencies to establish, manage, monitor, and/or evaluate MPAs at the federal level.

State, Commonwealth and Territorial MPA Programs

States use a wide variety of site designation authorities to protect and manage natural and cultural coastal and marine resources. Nationwide, there are more than 100 state, territorial, and commonwealth agencies with area-based management authority. Every state and territory has different bureaus, departments, and divisions that regulate the environment, manage lands, and regulate commerce. Read about the marine protected areas in some coastal and marine states, commonwealths, and territories here.

Tribal MPA Programs

Tribal governments have an integral role to play in resource management – legally, culturally and economically. Several Indian tribes in Western Washington and the Great Lakes have treaty-reserved fishing rights. These tribes share co-management authority and responsibility for marine resources in their usual and customary fishing areas with the federal government and/or states, depending on the specific resource and area identified. Click here to read about these examples.

Some International MPA Initiatives

There are numerous examples around the world of the establishment of marine protected area sites, networks, and systems. We have selected just a few where the NOAA National Marine Protected Areas Center has a responsibility to participate in these cooperative conservation efforts. Click here to read about these examples.

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