Managing MPAs is a challenging job for the many federal, state, tribal and international programs that are responsible for these amazing places. The MPA Center helps MPA programs to address key management challenges through information, tools and training.
Human uses of the ocean are growing, requiring new and forward-looking approaches to comprehensive ocean planning. To meet this challenge, NOAA's National Marine Protected Areas Center is developing a portfolio of place-based ocean planning tools to help coastal communities better understand the drivers, patterns, conflicts and benefits of ocean uses along their shores.