• Sign in

  • Join for free
  • Home
  • News
  • About
    • The ODYSSEA Team
    • Sponsors
    • Collaborators
  • Projects
    • Discovery Trips
    • Events
    • Past Projects
    • Research and Conservation
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Sponsoring
  • Publications
  • Photos
  • Contact
ODYSSEA

Search

    • en
    • fr
  • info@odyssea.lu
0
ODYSSEA
  • Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • About
    • The ODYSSEA Team
    • Sponsors
    • Collaborators
  • Projects
    • Discovery Trips
    • Events
    • Past Projects
    • Research and Conservation
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Sponsoring
  • Publications
  • Photos
  • Contact

Marine Protected Areas – Why do we need them?

Home » News » Marine Protected Areas – Why do we need them?
global-mpa-UNEP-WCMC-IUCN-2020
10May

Marine Protected Areas – Why do we need them?

Next
Previous

We live on a blue planet. Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface, hold 97% of its water, and represent 90% of all habitable space on the planet. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, kelp forests, saltmarshes and seagrass beds belong to the most biodiverse systems of the oceans and are the nurseries for millions of marine species. Some tropical coral reefs can hold up 1,000 different species per m2. With 15% of dietary intake of animal protein provided by fisheries and millions of people depending on fisheries for their livelihoods, these nursery grounds are essential to replenish commercial fish stocks. Furthermore, coastal systems are amazing at absorbing or sequestering carbon at rates up to 50 times those of the same area of tropical forests. Therefore, coastal areas are immensely important in the fight against the climate crisis.

However, our coastal ecosystems, and with them the many species that rely on them, are degrading and disappearing at alarming rates. Today, over 60% of the human population lives on or near a coastline and 80% of tourism is concentrated near coastal areas. Overfishing, pollution, ocean acidification and unsustainable resource extraction has severe impacts on the health of our coasts. 60% of the world’s major marine ecosystems that support livelihoods have already been degraded or lost and more than half of the world’s marine species will face extinction by 2100 if we don’t take drastic actions.

Ivan Colic | AfroGraphique for the Save Our Seas Foundation
Ivan Colic | AfroGraphique for the Save Our Seas Foundation

One of the most effective means for protecting coastal biodiversity is through the establishment and proper management of Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) defines MPAs as “An area designated and effectively managed to protect marine ecosystems, processes, habitats, and species, which can contribute to the restoration and replenishment of resources for social, economic, and cultural enrichment.”

Some MPAs completely inhibit human activities, while others attempt to regulate human presence and activity, to render the use of marine resources more sustainable and more diverse. The benefits of properly designed and managed MPAs are plentiful and diverse. They protect coastal biodiversity and ecosystem services and increase ecosystem resilience and productivity. Fisheries depend on this. Furthermore, healthy coastal ecosystems offer coastal protection against storm surges, that become increasingly strong and common with climate change. More than that, they offer increased sustainable recreational and eco-tourism opportunities, thereby creating new jobs, and also offer an excellent opportunity for scientific research and environmental education.

Ivan Colic | AfroGraphique for the Save Our Seas Foundation
Ivan Colic | AfroGraphique for the Save Our Seas Foundation

We depend on healthy coastal ecosystems, for coastal production, nutrition, carbon absorption and sequestration, livelihoods, and cultural and spiritual practices. Yet, less than 10% of coastal areas are efficiently protected. This poses a direct threat to coastal biodiversity but also to our own economic prosperity and societal survival. For these reasons, an MPA well managed network covering at least 30% of the ocean’s surface is needed to guarantee the recovery and protection of the world’s coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. Our very own survival depends on this.

Sources: IUCN, WWF, UNESCO.

Text written by Félix Feider.

Categories: News, Research and Conservation
Tags: biodiversity, conservation, marine protected areas
Share:

Related Posts

Sailing Sunset

A Sailing Odyssey

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] This article is written by Sophie Schönherr, our newest active member and passionate ocean advocate. Her

Read more
PolarBear_c_PGallego

Lëtzebuerg an der Klima Kris

Odyssea invitéiert op Webinar.

Read more
WorldOceansDayCover

5 Mieresnaturschutz Erfolleger

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Um 8. Juni feiere mir de Weltdag vun den Ozeanen, den World Oceans Day soll

Read more
WorldOceansDayCover

5 Marine Conservation Success Stories

Projects that give hope on World Oceans Day.

Read more
caughtfish

The Tragedy of the Commons

How are fisheries regulated in the EU?

Read more
Source: Pixabay

The Complicated Story of Shark Exploitation

How can we ensure healthy shark populations?

Read more
Villepreux-Powerjpg-horz

Celebrating Women in Science

5 extraordinary women in marine sciences

Read more
Colourful fishing nets

The Hidden Costs of Seafood

5 facts that make you rethink the sustainability of seafood

Read more
Coastal_Threats

Coastal ecosystems – Threats and challenges

Mangrove forests and saltmarshes are declining, but why?

Read more
Mangrove_Malapascua

Blue Carbon – The importance of coastal ecosystems in climate change

Not only trees remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Read more
© 2023 ODYSSEA ASBL
  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Contact