Evaluating ecological benefits of oceanic protected areas

Arthur Blanluet; Edward T Game; Daniel C Dunn; Jason D Everett; Amanda T Lombard; Anthony J Richardson

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.003

Evaluating ecological benefits of oceanic protected areas

Trends Ecol Evol. 2024 Feb;39(2):175-187. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.003. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Authors

Arthur Blanluet¹, Edward T Game², Daniel C Dunn³, Jason D Everett⁴, Amanda T Lombard⁵, Anthony J Richardson⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia. Electronic address: arthur.blanluet0@gmail.com.
² The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.
³ School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia.
⁴ School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia; Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa.
⁶ School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, QLD, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Environment, Queensland Biosciences Precinct (QBP), St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia.

PMID: 37778906
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.003

Abstract

Oceans beyond the continental shelf represent the largest yet least protected environments. The new agreement to increase protection targets to 30% by 2030 and the recent United Nations (UN) High Seas Treaty try to address this gap, and an increase in the declaration of oceanic Marine Protected Areas (oMPAs) in waters beyond 200 m in depth is likely. Here we find that there is contradictory evidence concerning the benefits of oMPAs in terms of protecting pelagic habitats, providing refuge for highly mobile species, and potential fisheries benefits. We discover a mismatch between oMPA management objectives focusing on protection of pelagic habitats and biodiversity, and scientific research focusing on fisheries benefits. We suggest that the solution is to harness emerging technologies to monitor inside and outside oMPAs.

Keywords: Aichi Biodiversity Target 11; Convention on Biological Diversity; marine reserves.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biodiversity
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Ecosystem*
Fisheries
Oceans and Seas