Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) valuing marine biodiversity & ecosystems
for the Blue Economy
Photo credit: Frédéric Basmayousse
Dr Samantha Burgess
Public hearing for the Committee on Fisheries
9th November 2016
Value of the ocean economy
On a global scale…
Destroying the ocean economy
MPAs improve ocean health
Actions to secure our ocean assets
The economic case for expanding MPAs
WWF: MPAs – Smart Investments in Ocean Health, 2015
The state of MPAs in European Seas
From: Marine Protected Areas in European Seas, EEA 2015
WWF: Scorecard 2016: Marine Protected Areas in the Baltic, Nov 2016
Emergence of policy on Blue Economy is happening against a backdrop of massive growth
WWF: Blue Growth in the Mediterranean Sea, 2015
Relative size today (GDP)
Shipping and Transport
Seabed mining
Wild catch fisheries
Aquaculture
Offshore oil and gas
Tourism
Offshore windExpected size 2030
(rough estimates
for illustration only)
> 4%
yearGlobal
trade
Interactions between sectors & areas of conservation interest
Key messages
• MPAs are essential for a sustainable blue economy
• Integrated ocean governance requires an ecologically coherent network of MPAs in addition to regional marine planning to protect marine biodiversity & deliver a sustainable blue economy
• WWF have developed a comprehensive set of principles for a Sustainable Blue Economy to achieve effective governance & future actions