The contribution of very large marine protected areas to marine conservation: giant leaps or smoke and mirrors?

Rebecca L Singleton; Callum M Roberts

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.067

The contribution of very large marine protected areas to marine conservation: giant leaps or smoke and mirrors?

Mar Pollut Bull. 2014 Oct 15;87(1-2):7-10. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.067. Epub 2014 Aug 22.

Authors

Rebecca L Singleton¹, Callum M Roberts²

Affiliations

¹ Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2204 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: rlsingleton@gmail.com.
² Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK. Electronic address: callum.roberts@york.ac.uk.

PMID: 25152184
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.067

Abstract

In recent years, marine protected areas have been "super-sized". At first glance, this seems a gift to marine conservation. Yet, the new wave of very large marine protected areas ("VLMPAs") have faced criticism from the scientific community. In this article we examine the merits and the criticisms of VLMPAS, and consider whether they provide a much-needed boost to marine conservation, or are simply too good to be true.

Keywords: Adaptive management; Conservation strategy; Fisheries; MPA; Marine policy; Marine protected areas.

MeSH terms

Biodiversity*
Conservation of Natural Resources / economics
Conservation of Natural Resources / legislation & jurisprudence
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Fisheries*
Government Regulation
Organizational Objectives