Know Your MPA's

Agency: Y&R France

Client: The Surfrider Foundation

MPA, or Marine Protected Area, is like a national park, only in the water. Think of them as the Yellowstones of the ocean.

A marine protected area is defined as: ‘Any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment’ (IUCN, 1988)

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines six management categories of protected areas.

1.     Protected area managed mainly for science of wilderness protection (e.g. Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness Area)

2.     Protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation (e.g. National Park)

3.     Protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features (e.g. Natural Monument)

4.     Protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention (e.g. Habitat/Species Management Area)

5.     Protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape protection and recreation (e.g. Protected Landscape/Seascape)

6.     Protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems (e.g. Managed Resource Protected Area)

Percentage of protection by ocean:

Arctic Ocean: 3%

North East Pacific: .2%

South Pacific: 1.5%

North West Atlantic: .6%

North East Atlantic: .8%

West Africa: .1%

Mediterranean: 2.5%

Arabian Sea: .7%

East Africa: .3%

Indian Ocean: 6%

East Asian Sea: .9%

Australia & New Zealand: 2.9%

North West Pacific: .06%

(For an interactive map, visit http://www.protectplanetocean.org/)

The bottom line is that we’re called “The Little Blue Planet” for a reason. We need to give it lots of lubs:

Smoocean!

We need to push our lawmakers to extend more protection to the seas. Otherwise this might happen:

Zombie whales!