Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas

An OverviewAn Overview

What is a Marine What is a Marine ProtectedProtected Area Area??

• A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a part of A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a part of the ocean protected from harmful human the ocean protected from harmful human activity.activity.

What is a Marine Protected Area?What is a Marine Protected Area?

• Marine protected areas can help conserve Marine protected areas can help conserve the plants, mammals and fish that live the plants, mammals and fish that live within them.within them.

• However, harmful human activities must However, harmful human activities must be restricted.be restricted.

What is a Marine Protected Area?What is a Marine Protected Area?

• Activities that are Activities that are not harmful – such not harmful – such as sustainable as sustainable fishing and tourism fishing and tourism activities - are activities - are usually allowed.usually allowed.

What Does a MPA Protect?What Does a MPA Protect?

• Examples of things that might be Examples of things that might be protected in a MPA include:protected in a MPA include:– Fish and their habitat,Fish and their habitat,– Spawning areas, andSpawning areas, and– Special underwater features.Special underwater features.

What are the Characteristics of a What are the Characteristics of a Marine Protected Area?Marine Protected Area?

• Some of the characteristics of marine Some of the characteristics of marine protected areas include:protected areas include:– They may have zones of exclusion;They may have zones of exclusion;– They are flexible in time and size;They are flexible in time and size;– Each MPA is unique.Each MPA is unique.

What are the Characteristics of a What are the Characteristics of a Marine Protected Area?Marine Protected Area?

• Exactly what a particular MPA would look Exactly what a particular MPA would look like and accomplish would depend on what like and accomplish would depend on what was to be protected.was to be protected.

• Many kinds of MPAs are possible, and the Many kinds of MPAs are possible, and the can have a variety of sizes and functions.can have a variety of sizes and functions.

Why Do We Need Marine Why Do We Need Marine Protected Areas?Protected Areas?

• We need MPAs because:We need MPAs because:– They are proactive and precautionary;They are proactive and precautionary;– They contribute to an ecosystem-based They contribute to an ecosystem-based

approach;approach;– They provide a cornerstone for marine They provide a cornerstone for marine

conservation, education, and research.conservation, education, and research.

Why Do We Need Marine Why Do We Need Marine Protected Areas?Protected Areas?

• MPAs are needed to conserve and protect:MPAs are needed to conserve and protect:– commercial and non-commercial resources and commercial and non-commercial resources and

supporting habitats;supporting habitats;– endangered or threatened species and endangered or threatened species and

supporting habitats;supporting habitats;– unique habitats;unique habitats;– areas of high biodiversity or productivity;areas of high biodiversity or productivity;– areas to fulfil mandate of Minister.areas to fulfil mandate of Minister.

What Can MPAs Accomplish?What Can MPAs Accomplish?

• MPAs alone cannot fully protect all that MPAs alone cannot fully protect all that lives in the ocean, but they can:lives in the ocean, but they can:– Protect different kinds of habitats.Protect different kinds of habitats.– Provide safe places for endangered or depleted Provide safe places for endangered or depleted

species.species.– Protect key ecological processes in the ocean, Protect key ecological processes in the ocean,

such as upwellings.such as upwellings.

What Can MPAs Accomplish?What Can MPAs Accomplish?

– Create “seed banks” for some commercial fish Create “seed banks” for some commercial fish and plant species.and plant species.

– Contribute to the retention of genetic diversity.Contribute to the retention of genetic diversity.– Allow spill-over and improved recruitment for Allow spill-over and improved recruitment for

commercial stocks.commercial stocks.

What Can MPAs Accomplish?What Can MPAs Accomplish?

– Foster non-disruptive economic activities, such Foster non-disruptive economic activities, such as sustainable fishing, whale watching, scuba as sustainable fishing, whale watching, scuba diving, and kayaking.diving, and kayaking.

– Provide “insurance” against future Provide “insurance” against future management errors, accidents or management errors, accidents or environmental changes.environmental changes.

– Serve as natural laboratories for marine Serve as natural laboratories for marine research and monitoring.research and monitoring.

What are the Benefits of a MPA?What are the Benefits of a MPA?

• In Newfoundland and Labrador, marine In Newfoundland and Labrador, marine protected areas could play an important protected areas could play an important role in reviving and safeguarding the role in reviving and safeguarding the future health of the marine environment, future health of the marine environment, the fishery, and coastal communities.the fishery, and coastal communities.

What are the Benefits of a MPA?What are the Benefits of a MPA?

• MPAs can provide a foundation for MPAs can provide a foundation for additional benefits, including economic additional benefits, including economic development, marine tourism, scientific development, marine tourism, scientific research, and the satisfaction of knowing research, and the satisfaction of knowing that a part of the ocean is protected, and that a part of the ocean is protected, and relatively safe from harm.relatively safe from harm.