MARINE PROTECTED AREAS
What are marine protected areas?
Marine protected areas or otherwise know as MPA’s are mapped areas of coastline or open ocean that have limitations set upon them and the marine inhabitants by laws restricting levels of human disturbance. These specially plotted zones are generally areas with high marine productivity and habitat communities, or cultural significance. Theses valuable ecosystems are protected by a number of laws that protect and conserve all living organisms that reside within the area. “The mission of the National Marine Protected Areas Center is to facilitate the effective use of science, technology, training, and information in the planning, management and evaluation of the nation's system of marine protected areas”(NOAA). These areas are widely utilized for scientific research, fishery conservation, habitat conservation, and recreational enjoyment. The charted areas are categorized into levels of restriction delineating between what types of human interaction can take place within the MPA. MPA’s vary in levels of legal protection, issuing different standards for areas of marine conservation.
No Access MPA’s prohibit all ecological disturbances and require permits to be accessed, these areas mostly utilized for research and monitoring purposes. No Impact MPA’s allow access to them but prohibit any activities that could potentially harm the ecological or cultural preservation of the area. These impacts include taking of submerged cultural heritage, dumping of any materials, and the extraction of any natural environments. No Take MPA’s allow for some harmful human impact resources by human but strictly prohibit any taking or destruction of marine areas. Zoned With No Take Areas are MPA’s that are zoned or split into multiple different areas that have restrictions that very upon space and time of year, but still restricts all destruction of marine environments. These regions range in areas for human activities and utilize specific places to do so. Zoned Multiple Use MPA’s allow some extraction of marine resources but are specifically zoned to dictate areas of conservation and areas of lighter restriction in surrounding waters. Finally the most common type of MPA would be the Uniform Multiple Use MPA. These areas maintain a consistent level of protection all year allowing for some extractive purposes and allowable activities, while still preserving the natural ecological systems.
Marine protected areas or otherwise know as MPA’s are mapped areas of coastline or open ocean that have limitations set upon them and the marine inhabitants by laws restricting levels of human disturbance. These specially plotted zones are generally areas with high marine productivity and habitat communities, or cultural significance. Theses valuable ecosystems are protected by a number of laws that protect and conserve all living organisms that reside within the area. “The mission of the National Marine Protected Areas Center is to facilitate the effective use of science, technology, training, and information in the planning, management and evaluation of the nation's system of marine protected areas”(NOAA). These areas are widely utilized for scientific research, fishery conservation, habitat conservation, and recreational enjoyment. The charted areas are categorized into levels of restriction delineating between what types of human interaction can take place within the MPA. MPA’s vary in levels of legal protection, issuing different standards for areas of marine conservation.
No Access MPA’s prohibit all ecological disturbances and require permits to be accessed, these areas mostly utilized for research and monitoring purposes. No Impact MPA’s allow access to them but prohibit any activities that could potentially harm the ecological or cultural preservation of the area. These impacts include taking of submerged cultural heritage, dumping of any materials, and the extraction of any natural environments. No Take MPA’s allow for some harmful human impact resources by human but strictly prohibit any taking or destruction of marine areas. Zoned With No Take Areas are MPA’s that are zoned or split into multiple different areas that have restrictions that very upon space and time of year, but still restricts all destruction of marine environments. These regions range in areas for human activities and utilize specific places to do so. Zoned Multiple Use MPA’s allow some extraction of marine resources but are specifically zoned to dictate areas of conservation and areas of lighter restriction in surrounding waters. Finally the most common type of MPA would be the Uniform Multiple Use MPA. These areas maintain a consistent level of protection all year allowing for some extractive purposes and allowable activities, while still preserving the natural ecological systems.
Unfortunately human impacts have had a negative effect of our oceans making these areas critical processes for conservation and oceanic preservation. MPA’s as categorized here represent a small part of a global network of marine sanctioned areas that promote recovery and preservation of vibrant oceanic ecosystems. The public is encouraged to engage in these accessible MPA’s through recreation to explore these natural and native habitats.