Reuben Cook
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a great way for scientists to protect the oceans! They are closed off areas of ocean that can preserve and protect wildlife, while also preventing activities like commercial fishing. They are also useful for research into areas of ocean that have become damage by humans and are crucial for repairing biodiversity. There are different types of MPAs, such as for areas with rare habitats like coral reefs, or to protect certain species, or simply to control any local activities. MPAs can be split into smaller groups that decide how an area is protected. For example, highly protected marine areas are areas where all human activity is banned so biodiversity can recover. MPAs must be well managed, funded properly and be able to protect all marine animals.
They are found all over the globe, from Ireland to Indonesia, and are only effective with good management and enough funding. MPAs are created based on the area needing protection, so each MPA is unique and requires different conservation tactics. Many regions where coral reefs are found have become marine protected areas, due to the rate of coral bleaching events, ocean acidification and microplastic pollution. Others try to conserve and encourage population growth of rare or threatened species.
There are many obstacles to overcome when it comes to protecting marine environments. This is because the ecosystem is very dynamic and because the biodiversity is incredibly fragile and easily influenced by human activities. There is no shortage of threats facing the ocean, and most can be traced back to a source of human influence. Human activities lead t emissions accumulating in the atmosphere, which drives up global temperatures and causes damage the oceans. This damage can happen due to direct human intervention ie. excessive fishing/oil rig drilling and plastic pollution, or via indirect human intervention through climate change, which causes ocean acidification and changes in pH, a major threat to ocean calcifers. As shared above, coral reef habitats are famous for being threatened and the rate they are dying. Bleaching happens when stressors in the water, ie. fluctuations in pH or temperature, leads to a loss of algae, leading the reefs to turn white, hence the ‘bleach’. At this stage, the reefs are not dead but are at a significantly higher risk of dying.
Location is important when scientists decide whether an MPA will be successful, and this is a tricky first step. You must decide why you want to create an MPA and know your goals and how you plan to achieve them. Funding is the next step, and you have to consider laws and rules for the region. It is also important to have additional associations with the government, conservationists, marine biologists and locals. After gaining lawful approval, the next steps are to select a site, create a plan, and manage and monitor the region.
Clearly, repairing the health of the oceans remains a challenge facing conservationists today. Plenty of people rely on a healthy ocean for their livelihoods, food and infrastructure. Population growth is a driving force behind some pressure on the ocean, as lots of people are forced to overfish to feed their families and have an income. It is also well known that those most affected by climate change are always those who haven’t caused it, which is pretty ironic!