Marine Protected Areas An Overview

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

What is a Marine Protected Area? Marine protected areas can help conserve the plants, mammals and fish that live within them. Marine protected areas can help conserve the plants, mammals and fish that live within them. However, harmful human activities must be restricted. However, harmful human activities must be restricted.

What is a Marine Protected Area? Activities that are not harmful – such as sustainable fishing and tourism activities - are usually allowed. Activities that are not harmful – such as sustainable fishing and tourism activities - are usually allowed.

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

What are the Characteristics of a Marine Protected Area? Some of the characteristics of marine protected areas include: Some of the characteristics of marine protected areas include: –They may have zones of exclusion; –They are flexible in time and size; –Each MPA is unique.

What are the Characteristics of a Marine Protected Area? Exactly what a particular MPA would look like and accomplish would depend on what was to be protected. Exactly what a particular MPA would look like and accomplish would depend on what was to be protected. Many kinds of MPAs are possible, and the can have a variety of sizes and functions. Many kinds of MPAs are possible, and the can have a variety of sizes and functions.

Why Do We Need Marine Protected Areas? We need MPAs because: We need MPAs because: –They are proactive and precautionary; –They contribute to an ecosystem-based approach; –They provide a cornerstone for marine conservation, education, and research.

Why Do We Need Marine Protected Areas? MPAs are needed to conserve and protect: MPAs are needed to conserve and protect: –commercial and non-commercial resources and supporting habitats; –endangered or threatened species and supporting habitats; –unique habitats; –areas of high biodiversity or productivity; – areas to fulfil mandate of Minister.

What Can MPAs Accomplish? MPAs alone cannot fully protect all that lives in the ocean, but they can: MPAs alone cannot fully protect all that lives in the ocean, but they can: –Protect different kinds of habitats. –Provide safe places for endangered or depleted species. –Protect key ecological processes in the ocean, such as upwellings.

What Can MPAs Accomplish? –Create “seed banks” for some commercial fish and plant species. –Contribute to the retention of genetic diversity. –Allow spill-over and improved recruitment for commercial stocks.

What Can MPAs Accomplish? –Foster non-disruptive economic activities, such as sustainable fishing, whale watching, scuba diving, and kayaking. –Provide “insurance” against future management errors, accidents or environmental changes. –Serve as natural laboratories for marine research and monitoring.

What are the Benefits of a MPA? In Newfoundland and Labrador, marine protected areas could play an important role in reviving and safeguarding the future health of the marine environment, the fishery, and coastal communities. In Newfoundland and Labrador, marine protected areas could play an important role in reviving and safeguarding the future health of the marine environment, the fishery, and coastal communities.

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