Protection level

Protection Level
It is often not widely recognized that MPAs may include a wide range of regulations that are quite diverse. Despite the widely acknowledged fact that exploitation of marine life has profoundly altered ocean ecosystems, and this has been true for many hundreds of years, many MPAs provide little or no protection from fishing. These include areas set aside to protect important cultural artifacts (i.e., shipwrecks) and others areas that restrict other non-fishing related activity. Conserving marine biological diversity may not be the primary goal of protected areas, but many closures are designated to protect certain species and habitats and contribute to the protection of biological diversity as a secondary consequence. In these cases we attempt to acknowledge the reduced, but significant, contribution to conservation objectives. These areas are rated moderate of low based on the restrictions in place and the likelihood that the management action contributes to conservation. The MPAtlas classifies site protection level according to several criteria related to extraction of marine life.

MPAs and Fishery Closures Unified Classification
The MPAtlas provides a simple and intuitive classification system based on the level of exploitation of marine life. Understanding that this is not an all-inclusive measure of protection it does recognize exploitation as the dominant threat to ocean ecosystems. Thus focusing the classification scheme on level of exploitation is an appropriate first approximation of protection level. To this we add management structure and permanence of designation to our scheme.

High Level of Protection
MPAs – No access or no take areas, if the area is zoned then at least 25% must be in no-take. These areas must have an active management authority and permanent designation. Examples: Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, California State no-take zones.

Fishery Closure – No take areas.

Moderate level of Protection
MPAs – These MPAs are managed by an authority and restrict fishing for multiple species, although some fishing may be permitted. Designation is permanent. The restrictions on gears and species are part of a larger management plan that may include zoning. Examples: State of California Marine Conservation areas

Fishery Closures – multiple gear types and species prohibited

Low Level of Protection
MPAs – Managed areas with multiple uses permitted, but no specific restrictions on exploitation. These areas are under management that is likely to help inform and encourage long term sustainable practices, but marine life is not specifically protected. Examples: Many US Sanctuaries, Ramsar sites.

Fishery Closures – Areas with regulations on single gear, single species or a single group of species, but other fishing allowed. These fishery closures do not have site managers or site management plans, and regulations are not usually are permanent). Examples: US Essential Fish Habitat regulations, benthic protection areas in New Zealand (e.g., large benthic trawl “frozen footprint” closures in areas not likely to be fished, shark sanctuaries).

Unknown
MPAs where regulations for fishing cannot be determined.

Note: World Heritage sites should receive the rating that the site does under the countries regulations.