Marine Protected Areas

MPAs are a key tool that can help to protect ecosystems from the effects of industrial activity. They can protect exploited species during critical stages of their life, reduce secondary impacts of fishing, such as habitat degradation brought about by trawl fisheries, and act as “insurance” against failures of poor and inadequate management. By their simplest definition, marine protected areas are areas of ocean that are free from destructive form of resource exploitation.

Not only can marine protected areas protect sedentary species such as shellfish, reef and rockfish, they can also help protect migratory species such as salmon and cod through the protection of key spawning and rearing grounds and migration corridors.

MPAs have been shown to increase the density of organisms within their boundaries, increase the average size of organisms, and increase the numbers of many exploited species. One benefit of MPAs is to return the protected ecosystem to its pre-exploited state, providing a baseline by which to judge the effectiveness of management in surrounding areas.

Perhaps one of the greatest attractions of marine protected areas from a fisheries perspective is the evidence of their ability to enhance fish populations outside of the reserve. Spillover into areas adjacent to MPAs can be expected to occur if the density and size of organisms increases within established reserves.

MPAs can also be important scientific tools, by providing information about the structure of unexploited ecosystems and how they compare to their exploited analogues.

MPAs are not, however a panacea for damaged marine ecosystems. It seems clear that an oil spill does not have the good sense to turn aside at the boundary of a marine reserve. Protection of habitat outside of reserves, control of industrial activity and reforms to fishing practices are essential complements to the establishment of reserves.

Despite increasing evidence of the success of the management technique, less than one ten-thousandth of the world’s oceans are fully protected in MPAs and Canada has protected less than 0.1% of its oceans. Some countries, however, have come further than most. The New Zealand parliament has announced its intent to protect 10 percent of its coastline in MPAs before 2010, while Australia has announced its plan to create the world’s largest marine reserve. Canada is off to a slow start.

The successful establishment of MPAs that are scientifically sound and provide maximum benefit requires good science and a well structured, transparent planning process based on the principles of ecosystem-based management. While Canada is committed to these planning measures in the Oceans Act and Oceans Strategy, they are not developed or funded.

Join us in urging Canada’s government to give adequate funding to ecosystem-based ocean’s planning to protect our common heritage while allowing Canadians to make a living from our oceans.

Ten Recommendations for Fisheries on the B.C. Coast

Seas of Change outlines the top ten changes necessary for sustainable fisheries and ecosystems on the British Columbia coast. Among other things, the report outlines the need for precautionary management, ecosystem-based management and full participation of communities surrounding fisheries in management decisions. This report provides examples of best practices from around the globe, and a critical analysis of current practices to assess whether legislation, implementation practices or both need to change to ensure sustainable management of Canada’s oceans. (Click on icon to the left.)

Also visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada page for more information on Canadian Marine Protected Areas.