Evaluating the Efficacy of Marine Protected Areas

The Bangrin Mangrove Marine Protected Area situated at Bani, Pangasinan, Philippines. (Credit: Emman A. Foronda via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

Managers of multi-use fisheries face the complex challenge of managing angler and biodiversity needs in addition to ensuring the water resource is protected. One strategy that resource management departments have implemented in saltwater fisheries is the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs), which can vary in size, age, and effectiveness.

What are Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas are defined by NOAA as set areas where specific protections are put in place to protect the native ecosystem and biodiversity. Though one of the most well-known types of MPAs is the no-take marine reserves, many implement more targeted protections while allowing other uses.

NOAA provides the following examples: “National parks, wildlife refuges, monuments and marine sanctuaries, fisheries closures, critical habitat, habitat areas of particular concern, state parks, conservation areas, estuarine reserves and preserves, and numerous others.”

The goal of MPAs is to complement other management strategies like fishery regulations and pollution controls in order to protect the marine environment.

Drivers of Success of Marine Protected Areas

A 2023 study published in Conservation Letters found that reserve size and age were the strongest drivers of MPA efficacy. California’s network of MPAs was chosen as the research site due to the variety of sites and access to angler and population data.

Examining data across the network of MPAs and assessing California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program surveys, the study found that larger and older areas resulted in increased fish catch, biomass, and positive species responses.

Conclusion

While the results of this study found age and size to be the greatest drivers of success, meta-analyses highlight depth and connectivity as major influences when evaluating fish catch, biomass, and species response to the protections.

Ultimately, collaborating with anglers, managers, and other stakeholders to determine the regional and local efficacy of MPAs leads to more relevant results and improves management to meet needs.