One World... A marine protected area in the making

What objective are we trying to achieve through the setting up of a marine protected area (MPA)?

A number of objectives have been earmarked, the main one being the protection of marine species of flora and fauna, but also to increase the efficiency of management and to increase the value of the area within the coastal and marine zone. The effective management of multi-purpose MPAs integrates marine environmental conservation within sustainable development of economic, social and cultural activities, through:

¤ Protection of significant zones of outstanding natural value;

¤ Moderation of the intensity of present uses of environmental resources, especially those which result in a decrease in such resources;

¤ Restoration and/or rehabilitation of degraded natural areas;

¤ Definition of sustainable levels of use of resources present in the area;

¤ Promotion of activities with low environmental impact and with positive economic and social impacts; and

¤ Aid in the transfer of scientific knowledge, also through educational and interpretation activities.

The conservation of biodiversity is the primary objective of any marine protected area, irrespective of the specific reason for the MPA creation, be it ecosystem conservation, fisheries protection or even the maintenance of cultural values.