Marine Protected Areas

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Marine Protected Areas
photo courtesy charles seaborn

• Maureen Wilmot
• Ocean Wilderness Network

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Ecotourism

• One of the fastest growing segments of the
  tourism industry
• Activities must be managed properly to ensure
  long-term sustainability of environment

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Ecotourism

• Clean water and healthy ecosystems are vital
• Programs to protect wildlife, coastal and marine
  habitats are essential

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Marine protected areas, or MPAs

• Permanently protect some or all of the natural
  and cultural resources within their boundaries
• Can differ greatly in size, location, and level
  of protection
• Some are fully protected others prohibit some
  activities, such as oil drilling, but permit
  others, such as fishing

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Marine protected areas, or MPAs

• Marine Sanctuaries
• Marine Parks
• Marine Reserves

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Fully Protected Areas

• Marine Reserves
• No Take Zones
• Research Reserves
• Ecological Reserves

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Why Fully Protected Areas and Why NOW

• Healthy Oceans mean Healthy Tourism
• Declining state of the oceans and the collapse of
  fisheries create a critical need for more
  effective management
• MPAs and Marine Sanctuaries have been designated,
  but often allow extractive activities

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Why Fully Protected Areas and Why NOW

• At present, less than 1 of the seas globally are
  fully protected
• In the United States, less than .01 is fully
  protected

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Benefits

• Non-consumptive uses are typically enhanced in
  fully protected areas
• Tourism
• Recreation
• Education/Research
• Evidence that fishing is higher on the edges of
  fully protected areas

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Ocean Wilderness NetworkMembers