US has Over 1,700 Marine Protected Areas

NOAA’s National Marine Protected Areas Center recently published a new report on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the US. There are now over 1,700 MPs, and about 41 per cent of all US waters out to 200nm are in some form of MPA. This includes sustainable fishery MPAs which often have specific gear restrictions over large ocean areas.

The coastal and ocean waters around the US are home to a wide array of MPAs of all sizes, shapes, and purposes. A quick overview of all types of MPAs in US waters, including those established for natural heritage, cultural heritage and sustainable production, reveals that:

• About 8 per cent of all US waters are protected by MPAs focused on natural heritage or cultural heritage (excluding sustainable production MPAs)
• Nearly all (85 per cent) US MPAs are multiple use, allowing some form of extractive activities
• No take MPAs occupy only about 3 per cent of all US waters
• About 7 per cent of the area in MPAs in the US is no take
• State and territorial governments manage approximately 76 per cent of the nation’s MPAs
• Federal agencies manage 60 per cent of US MPA area

US efforts to develop ecologically connected MPA networks are still at an early stage, with the noteworthy exception of California’s MPA network. In 2012, California completed the coastal component of its statewide Marine Life Protection Act network with 124 MPAs, including 58 no-take MPAs.

In July last year, the National Ocean Council released a Marine Planning Handbook to support the efforts of regions that choose to engage marine industries, stakeholders, the public and government to advance their economic development and conservation priorities.