Marine Protected Areas

Press/Media: Expert comment

Description

Marine protected area (MPA) status doesn’t guarantee that conservation efforts are effective, according to new research that looks at the de facto situation of preserved areas around the world.
A third of the MPAs analyzed appear likely to be protected only on paper, most of them in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Oceania, and the Indian Ocean.
Researchers created a Paper Park Index (PPI) based on interviews with local stakeholders and their perceptions of fishing levels within MPAs, with the PPI showing the difference between the theoretical goals of the MPAs and the reality on the water.
The new methodology could help provide more realistic information about the effectiveness of MPAs and support further conservation efforts, the study suggests.

Period	31 May 2023

Title	New index identifies marine reserves that are protected in theory only
Degree of recognition	International
Media name/outlet	Mongabay
Media type	Web
Country/Territory	United States
Date	31/05/23
Description	Marine protected area (MPA) status doesn’t guarantee that conservation efforts are effective, according to new research that looks at the de facto situation of preserved areas around the world. A third of the MPAs analyzed appear likely to be protected only on paper, most of them in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Oceania, and the Indian Ocean. Researchers created a Paper Park Index (PPI) based on interviews with local stakeholders and their perceptions of fishing levels within MPAs, with the PPI showing the difference between the theoretical goals of the MPAs and the reality on the water. The new methodology could help provide more realistic information about the effectiveness of MPAs and support further conservation efforts, the study suggests.
Producer/Author	Juliette Portala
URL	https://news.mongabay.com/2023/05/new-index-identifies-marine-reserves-that-are-protected-in-theory-only/
Persons	Fran Cabada-Blanco