In isolation, small MPAs may not support fish and invertebrate populations that are large enough to sustain themselves. However, in many regions, economic, social and political constraints make it impractical to create one single large MPA.
Networks of MPAs are increasingly valuable management tools in the face of climate change, natural disasters and economic, political and social fluxes.
MPA networks can contribute to sustainable development goals by fostering integrated ocean and coastal management
through three inter-related functions and benefits:- Ecological – A network can help maintain functional marine ecosystems by encompassing the temporal and spatial scales of ecological systems
- Social – A network can help resolve and manage conflicts in the use of natural resources
- Economical – A network can facilitate the efficient use of resources
Living Oceans Society identified 12 special marine places with precious coral and sponge species that are vulnerable to trawling and other intensive fishing practices along Canada’s Pacific coast. Interim protection of these areas could reduce coral and sponge bycatch by 90%.
View a map and more details about these12 precious marine gems here.
The implementation of MPA networks that cover all major marine habitats and ecosystems will be a major step in restoring and sustaining the health of the oceans. If widely adopted, MPA networks can help stem the losses of marine resources and recover not only marine life, but entire ecosystems. MPA networks can magnify benefits of individual sites, protect large-scale processes, slow the loss of endangered marine species and restore depleted fisheries.
Read “Establishing Resilient Marine Protected Area Networks – Making It Happen” to learn more about MPA Networks.
