The Marine Protected Areas Guide, a groundbreaking step in the conservation of oceans, which includes the Mediterranean Conservation Society’s experiences in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), was published in Science magazine.
The scientific study, called “Marine Protected Areas Guide: A Framework to Achieve Global Goals for the Ocean,” was authored by 43 marine biologists and social scientists from 39 institutions based in six continents, among whom is the head of the Marine Conservation Society Zafer Kızılkaya. The publication aims to develop the global understanding of ocean preservation via MPAs, and to reverse biodiversity loss in order to attain worldwide goals.
The study aims to be a global roadmap for the wholistic planning and creation of MPAs in order to protect oceans, and their monitoring and evaluation. The guide divides conservation activities into four levels — complete, high, low, and minimum — and contributes a shared language to be used for the monitoring and evaluation of all MPAs, as well as putting forward effective measures for the protection of oceans.
Kızılkaya states: “The guide is a result of our experience in how to manage MPAs in order to save the world’s oceans. We are very proud that our findings and experiences with the Marine Ranger Scheme, which we implemented for the first time at Gökova Bay, and its effects on biodiversity and shore fishing in the area, will be a guiding light for ocean conservation efforts thanks to this publication. Benefitting the oceans through Gökova Bay is our country’s success. The timing of the publication is also significant for oceans and MPAs, seeing as how the world’s countries are preparing to debate the “conserving at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030” article of the Biodiversity Agreement in 2022 in the city of Kunming in China. The MPA guide, which is a result of a decade of work by scientists, will also influence this debate.”
Why Do We Need a Marine Protected Areas Guide?
MPAs are a tool for ocean conservation, but not all MPAs are the same. There are many different types of MPA, depending on goals, expectations, and efficiency levels. Some MPAs are closed to all fishing activities, while others are open to nearly all of them. Some MPAs are actively managed through efficient management plans, while some exist only on paper. This is why goals and conservation results of MPAs vary.
This discrepancy leads to false expectations regarding the possible conservation results of any given MPA, and disrupts the understanding of just how much of our oceans are “protected,” which in turn not only prevents true progress, but also creates the risk of distraction from the goal of healthy oceans for the benefit of both nature and humankind. The lack of a guide to categorising MPAs and determining possible outcomes is the primary reason for these issues. The Marine Protected Areas Guide was created to eliminate these discrepancies.