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About the National System of Marine Protected AreasThe United States has developed a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the nation's vital natural and cultural marine resources. The national system is described in detail in the Framework for a National System of Marine Protected Areas for the United States. The national system of MPAs:
The purpose of the national system is to support the effective stewardship, conservation, restoration, sustainable use, and public understanding and appreciation of the nation's significant natural and cultural marine heritage and sustainable production marine resources, with due consideration of the interests of and implications for all who use, benefit from, and care about our marine environment. The goals of the national system are to conserve and manage:
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the National System of MPAs Benefits of a National System of MPAs The National System provides benefits to the nation, to participating MPAs, and to ocean stakeholders. Examples of some of these benefits include:
Eligible MPA Programs are invited to nominate their sites to be part of the national system of MPAs. The nomination process is transparent, science-based, and provides an opportunity for public comment. The national system has two primary areas of focus: strengthening and coordinating existing MPAs, and identifying conservation gaps, significant natural and cultural resources, or resource areas where additional protection may be needed. The MPA Center will conduct a transparent, science-based gap analysis process with partners in each region, with stakeholder involvement. The initial ecological gap analysis will be a demonstration effort conducted for in California in 2010-11. It will focus on mapping areas that contribute to the national system's natural heritage and sustainable production priority conservation objectives. Critical cultural heritage areas will be identified through a separate process after the ecological gap analysis. In developing the Framework, the MPA Center engaged the nation in a multi-year dialogue to ensure that the national system represents the nation's interests in the conservation and sustainable use of its natural and cultural marine resources. The MPA Center continues to work with and solicit input from federal, state, tribal, and local government partners, Fishery Management Councils, stakeholder groups, and the general public about their perspectives on the national system. The list of National System MPAs is the official inventory of all MPAs that have been formally included in and recognized as part of the National System of MPAs. Development of the List of MPAs is required by Section 4(d) of Executive Order 13158. Links For More Information |
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