What is a marine protected area (MPA)?

According to the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an MPA is “a clearly defined geographic space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.”

The need to protect seabeds from destructive activities and threats including trawling, marine pollution, anchoring on top of maerl beds and illegal fishing impels Oceana to carry out campaigns to research and classify marine habitats in the Gulf of Biscay, Atlantic and Mediterranean. Once this data is analysed, Oceana scientists establish a formal proposal to protect vulnerable areas and search for methods to carry out or request the recovery of the degraded environments.

Creation of MPA

Oceana believes it is essential to study and create marine protected areas in order to halt the degradation of the marine environment. In addition, this promotes the establishment of management measures for activities that are carried out in this environment, like fishing for example. This way, more protection is given to more coastal and marine areas, activities are carried out in a more balanced and sustainable way and citizens are more aware of the protected spaces.

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