Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Yet less than .5% of Marine Habitats are protected

The federal government’s MPA program defines marine protected areas as "any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein" (E.O. 13158, Federal Register, 2000).

MPAs perform as sites for research and education, as biodiversity reserves, as tools to conserve historic or cultural marine resources, as designations to reduce user conflicts, and to manage natural resources.

MPAs provide varying degrees of protection and permit or prohibit different uses.

Most MPAs permit certain human recreational or commercial activities and some extractive activities such as fishing or shellfish harvesting, while many MPAs prohibit certain extractive activities such as oil and gas drilling.

Benefits of Marine Protected Areas

—Conserves our ocean resources

—Enhancing the reproductive potential of marine species

—Protect long term health of our oceans

—Increased fish size

—Promotes cultural heritage

—Maintaining species diversity

—Preserving habitat

—Preserving ecosystem functions

—Ensure fisheries production

—Spillover

From the book: Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy Baur, Donald C./ Eichenberg, Tim/ Sutton, Michael