Difference between revisions of "Marine Protected Areas"

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Here's a nice [http://grist.org/living/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-marine-protected-areas/ illustrated guide to MPAs].
 
Here's a nice [http://grist.org/living/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-marine-protected-areas/ illustrated guide to MPAs].
 
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The United States has developed a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the nation's vital natural and cultural marine resources. The purpose of the National System is to build management capacity among MPA programs, coordinate collaborative efforts to address common management issues and identify ecosystem-based gaps in the protection of significant natural and cultural resources for possible future action by the nation's MPA authorities.
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The goals of the national system are to conserve and manage:
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:*Natural heritage – the nation's biological communities, habitats, ecosystems, and processes and the ecological services, values and uses they provide
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:*Cultural heritage – cultural resources that reflect the nation's maritime history and traditional cultural connections to the sea, as well as the uses and values they provide
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:*Sustainable production – the nation's renewable living resources and their habitats (including, but not limited to, spawning, mating, and nursery grounds and areas established to minimize bycatch of species) and the social, cultural and economic values and services they provide
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An updated [http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/nationalsystem/framework/final-mpa-framework-0315.pdf Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States of America] was published in March 2015. Originally published in 2008, the Framework outlines the goals and objectives of the National System of MPAs and describes how it is being implemented, as called for by Executive Order 13158. The updated Framework incorporates experience gained implementing the National System and advice from the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee and MPA programs.  
 
An updated [http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/nationalsystem/framework/final-mpa-framework-0315.pdf Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States of America] was published in March 2015. Originally published in 2008, the Framework outlines the goals and objectives of the National System of MPAs and describes how it is being implemented, as called for by Executive Order 13158. The updated Framework incorporates experience gained implementing the National System and advice from the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee and MPA programs.  
 
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Much more information on MPAs is available from NOAA's [http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/nationalsystem/framework/ National Marine Protected Areas Center].
 
Much more information on MPAs is available from NOAA's [http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/nationalsystem/framework/ National Marine Protected Areas Center].
 
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Revision as of 10:08, 30 March 2015

A 3-Part Series on Marine Protected Areas appeared in Surfrider's newsletter Making Waves in 2001-2002.


Here's a nice illustrated guide to MPAs.

The United States has developed a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the nation's vital natural and cultural marine resources. The purpose of the National System is to build management capacity among MPA programs, coordinate collaborative efforts to address common management issues and identify ecosystem-based gaps in the protection of significant natural and cultural resources for possible future action by the nation's MPA authorities.

The goals of the national system are to conserve and manage:

  • Natural heritage – the nation's biological communities, habitats, ecosystems, and processes and the ecological services, values and uses they provide
  • Cultural heritage – cultural resources that reflect the nation's maritime history and traditional cultural connections to the sea, as well as the uses and values they provide
  • Sustainable production – the nation's renewable living resources and their habitats (including, but not limited to, spawning, mating, and nursery grounds and areas established to minimize bycatch of species) and the social, cultural and economic values and services they provide


An updated Framework for the National System of Marine Protected Areas of the United States of America was published in March 2015. Originally published in 2008, the Framework outlines the goals and objectives of the National System of MPAs and describes how it is being implemented, as called for by Executive Order 13158. The updated Framework incorporates experience gained implementing the National System and advice from the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee and MPA programs.

Much more information on MPAs is available from NOAA's National Marine Protected Areas Center.