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Establish a strongly linked, scientifically based, comprehensive network of protected areas representing diverse U.S. marine ecosystems.

National parks, wilderness areas, wildlife management areas, state forests, and city parks are all examples of land-based protected areas. The designation of protected areas on land has a long history and proven track record for providing long-term protection, resource management, recreational opportunities, and other uses. Marine protected areas are defined as any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with overlying waters and associated flora and fauna, and historical and cultural features, that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Categories of marine protected areas can range from strictly protected wilderness areas to multiple-use areas.

There are approximately 300 marine protected areas in the U.S. managed by federal agencies, state governments, or nongovernmental organizations. U.S. marine protected areas include National Marine Sanctuaries; selected National Parks, Seashores, Monuments, and Wildlife Refuges; National Estuarine Research Reserves; National Estuary Program areas; and certain areas designated for rebuilding fish stocks in Fishery Management Plans.

Marine protected areas are important management tools with unique potential to help communities protect and sustainably use their valuable marine and coastal resources. They have been used effectively to conserve and manage natural areas, reduce user conflicts and impacts from user activities, provide educational opportunities, enhance commercial and recreational opportunities, and provide undisturbed areas for scientific comparison with nearby degraded habitats. Despite these benefits and the fact that oceans cover over 71% of the Earth's surface, internationally, less than 1% of the sea is designated as marine protected areas. Domestically, about 1% of the ocean area under U.S. jurisdiction is designated as marine protected areas, and less than 1% of these areas protect marine life from fishing and other impacts. Many natural treasures on land have been given special protections to allow them to remain as undisturbed as possible as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. No such system exists for U.S. ocean environments.

Ongoing Concerns

• The U.S. does not have an integrated, comprehensive network of sites representing the nation's major ocean and coastal environments.
• There is no comprehensive approach to designating, evaluating, or monitoring marine protected areas at either the state or the federal level.
• Marine protected areas have not been used effectively for the long-term protection and sustainable use of commercial and recreational fisheries.
• Limited funding prevents adequate enforcement and monitoring in existing marine protected areas.
• There are too few areas that preserve marine biodiversity by limiting fishing and other harvest activities.

Recommendations

• Increase linkages among existing marine protected areas within the U.S. and with those in neighboring countries to create a well-coordinated network of sites for long-term monitoring, public education, sustainable use, research and exploration, and protection of natural resources.
• Establish criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of existing marine protected areas, and improve individual site performance and the success of the overall network.
• Identify areas of important ocean biological diversity and productivity, and habitats for endangered species and commercial and recreational fisheries species, including essential fish habitat and coastal and marine areas that provide key ecosystem functions or contain significant U.S. historical or cultural resources.
• Examine the concept of marine wilderness areas and its applicability to U.S. marine protected areas.
• Evaluate the ability of existing marine protected areas to protect unique or representative examples of biological, cultural, or historical resources; identify new areas of important ocean diversity and productivity; and add sites and capacities to address specific local, tribal, regional, national, or international issues and needs.
• Leverage public dollars to encourage private donations by corporations and individuals to support national marine sanctuaries and other marine protected areas.
• Seek Congressional support for the Clinton/Gore Lands Legacy Initiative, which proposes to more than double the funding to strengthen our nation's twelve national marine sanctuaries.

For more information

http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov
http://www.nps.gov/
http://www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/ppa.html