Marine Protected Areas Flashcards
What is a protected area
A ‘protected area’ is defined by the IUCN as ‘a clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values’
Hoe are protected areas made
- Created by delineating zones with permitted and non-permitted uses within that zone.
- Lots of different types: strict reserve -> sustainable use of natural resources (‘reasonable human activities/ uses’)
– Zoning: to minimise conflicts between incompatible uses
Ascencion island
Ascension Island: a bright spot for marine conservation in the tropical Atlantic
Major harvesting of green turtles for export begins in
the early 19th Century
Legal protection put in place in 1940s, helped increase population again
Why do we need MPA
Commercial fisheries cover>55% of the ocean surface
Populations of marine megafauna have declined by as much as 70-95%
7.7% of the ocean in MPAs, 2.7% of the ocean is highly protected
Marine Protected Area coverage is increasing, but still short of the 10% target set for 2020 in the Aichi Biodiversity targets, and well short of the 30% by 2030 that is thought to be the minimum needed to stabilize marine ecosystems.
The Ascension Island Marine Vertebrate Tagging Programme
Satellite tagging used to track movements of pelagic predators encountered in Ascension’s maritime zone. Residency in the Ascension Island EEZ, and hence ‘protectability’, varies
considerably among species tracked Tuna, Galapagos shark and silky
shark show long-term residency while more nomadic species such as
blue marlin, oceanic whitetip shark and blue shark have much lower
retention.
What are BRUVs
Baited remote underwater video systems used onpelagic fish and sharks.
What are seamount surveys
Research vessels and sampling design used for estimating the ‘radius of influence’ of Ascension’s shallow seamounts on pelagic fish and sharks
Indirect fishery impacts: Seabirds
Facilitated foraging in seabirds. Many tropical, oceanic seabird species feed by associating with sub-surface predators (e.g. cetaceans and tuna) that drive prey within reach.
Seabird density & foraging intensity increases significantly closer to their breeding colonies with similar trends evident in tracking and visual census data.
Development of MPA scenarios for Ascension island
Two competing MPA designs presented to policy makers along with
ecological and economic cost benefit analysis based on best evidence.
Mixed use scenario 2 developed using a Marxan-based approach to protect key conservation features while maximising potential revenue from fisheries based on historical distribution of effort.
What is a ‘paper park’?
Designated area protection but no use of enforcement methods to ensure no illegal fishing
