#Wildlife
Article·1 min read

What is a marine protected area?

John Meisner

With marine biodiversity in sharp decline, the future of the planet depends on us taking action to rebuild our ocean. There is no quick fix, but luckily the ocean has a powerful trick up its sleeve: when we protect and care for a specific area, we see that area and the surrounding environment recover at an astonishing rate. This is what marine protected areas are all about.

John Meisner
Apr 4, 2023

Image © Antonio Gravante

A marine protected area (MPA) is a designated area of the ocean placed under protection by a governing body.

Marine protection is the process of safeguarding ocean ecosystems and wildlife from human practices that negatively affect the environment. It includes creating protected areas where activities like fishing, drilling, and mining are either restricted or fully prohibited. There are different forms of marine protected areas, including marine reserves, marine parks, and marine sanctuaries.

Lewis Burnett / Ocean Image Bank

Three reasons why marine protected areas are essential

  1. Coastal and marine ecosystems provide a range of services that are vital to human well-being, such as food provision, local livelihoods, and climate regulation.

  2. Marine life plays a crucial role in maintaining the natural balance of ecosystems, which is in turn essential for the survival of all species.

  3. Marine protected areas support the sustainable development of fisheries, which provide food and livelihoods for millions of people worldwide.

Shawn Heinrichs

The actual level of protection varies depending on both government policy and unwanted, unauthorized traffic accessing the area. Full protection prohibits all access and extractive practices, while “light” protection permits significant human activities to still take place.

Another critical aspect of strong marine protection is the participation and involvement of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and artisanal fisheries. These communities have a deep understanding of their local ocean environment, along with traditional knowledge that can inform and support efforts to preserve and protect marine life. To be successful and meaningful, marine protected areas must prioritize equitable distribution and ensure that Indigenous peoples and local communities are stakeholders in the management of these areas.

To sum up, it is crucial that we continue to prioritize the implementation of marine areas under strong protection and pressure governments to enact better policies.

Do your bit today by signing our petition to tell world leaders to secure at least 30% of the ocean as strong marine protected areas by 2030.

Contributors

John Meisner

Campaign Manager

John is a digital creative with a background in science. His passion for the natural world often has him in the backcountry of British Columbia where he spends his time adventuring on his bike or skis.

Whistler, Canada

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Explainers

What is 30×30?

Scientific evidence from across the globe has made it clear that there is a biodiversity crisis in motion. We are witnessing a rapid decline of species: top predators like tigers, shorebirds in North America, the vaquita porpoise, otherwise known as the world’s most endangered marine mammal, and countless others. 30×30 is a critical solution that we can all help achieve.

Article·3 min read
What is high protection and why is it important?

The ocean is home to an unfathomable diversity of marine life and plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. Yet human activities like fishing, mining, and drilling continue to cause significant harm to these delicate ecosystems. This is where strong levels of marine protection come in — specifically highly or fully protected marine areas.

Article·2 min read
#Wildlife·Apr 4, 2023
Article·2 min read

What is high protection and why is it important?

John Meisner

The ocean is home to an unfathomable diversity of marine life and plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. Yet human activities like fishing, mining, and drilling continue to cause significant harm to these delicate ecosystems. This is where strong levels of marine protection come in — specifically highly or fully protected marine areas.

Image © Michele Roux / Ocean Image Bank

High or full marine protection refers to strict policies implemented to safeguard marine environments and biodiversity from harmful human activities.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are one of the most effective tools we have for protecting the ocean and increasing the resilience of species both within these areas and in the surrounding environment. In these carefully-selected, designated areas of the ocean, human activities that harm marine life are either prohibited or extremely restricted. They can be established by any combination of governments, NGOs, or community groups depending on the circumstances. Marine protected areas come in different forms and operate under different levels of management. This ranges from highly or fully protected areas, where all damaging interventions are prohibited, to minimally protected areas, where many disruptive human activities are still permitted.

Alex Mustard / Ocean Image Bank

High protection marine areas

Marine protected areas under high or full protection put in place some of the highest levels of safeguarding for ocean ecosystems: they are entirely protected areas where no damaging human activities are allowed, including fishing, mining, and oil and gas development. Science tells us that highly protected marine areas are essential for long-term ocean health and resilience, as they enable species to thrive without interference from human activities. 

This definition of high or full protection comes from the Marine Conservation Institute and falls in line with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected area categories Ia and Ib.

Less than 3% of the world’s ocean is currently designated with high or full protection, making increased implementation of these areas a critical goal for achieving 30×30. It is also paramount to ensure that governments implement fully protected areas with the participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities. This must be a vital part of our commitment to 30×30: as stewards of the land and ocean and key knowledge-holders, Indigenous communities lead initiatives that have proven to be both effective and equitable.

Bruce / Adobe Stock

As individuals, we can take action to protect the ocean by reducing our plastic consumption, supporting sustainable initiatives,  and advocating for stronger marine protection policies.

Take your first step today by signing our 30×30 petition and join the movement to help save the ocean and planet for future generations.

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