Many nations have created or promised to create marine protected areas, but they dont all carry the same level of protections.
Billions of people around the world rely on the ocean for food, income and cultural identity. But climate change, overfishing and habitat destruction are unraveling ocean ecosystems.
As a marine ecologist, I study ways to improve ocean conservation and management by protecting key areas of the ocean. Many nations have created or promised to create marine protected areas zones that may restrict activities like fishing, shipping and aquaculture. But decades of research have shown that not all marine protected areas are created equal, and that the most effective preserves restrict damaging activities.
Many governing bodies around the world have responded to the ocean crisis by pledging to protect swaths of ocean within their territories. To see how these commitments added up, my colleagues and I recently evaluated ocean conservation commitments announced from 2014 through 2019 at the yearly Our Ocean Conferences high-level international meetings initiated by the U.S. State Department. (More recent meetings were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.)
A number of countries have made ambitious commitments. At the Our Ocean Conferences from 2014 through 2019, 62 countries pledged to protect areas of their ocean. Fourteen nations, including the Seychelles and Chile, committed to protect more than 38,000 square miles (100,000 square kilometers) within their waters.
Unfortunately, even if all of these commitments are fully implemented, they will protect only 4% of the worlds ocean. Adding in all other protected areas and outstanding commitments made in other forums raises that figure to 8.9%.
The number is likely to rise as additional countries join in. For example, on May 30 the South Pacific island nation of Niue pledged to protect 100% of its national waters. They cover 122,000 square miles an area roughly the size of Vietnam.
Most recently, the Biden administration proposed on June 8 to designate Hudson Canyon, which lies southeast of New York City in the Atlantic and is one of the largest underwater canyons in the world, as a national marine sanctuary. The canyon provides habitat for sperm whales, sea turtles, deep-sea corals and other sensitive species.
Adding urgency to this effort, negotiations at the United Nations continue around a proposed target to protect at least 30% of Earths land and sea areas by 2030. More than 90 countries, including the U.S., have endorsed this goal.
Clearly this is strong progress, but much work remains. Nations have failed to carry out past international conservation pledges. And meaningful marine protection involves more than stating high-level commitments.
Today some marine protected areas offer significant protection for fish and other sea life, but others exist mainly on paper.
For example, the Southern Ocean around Antarctica is one of the least-altered marine zones on Earth, but fishing is expanding there, and only 5% of it is currently protected. Deliberations over two proposed protected areas there, in the East Antarctic and the Weddell Sea, have continued for years.
In many protected areas, damaging activities are permitted. For example, the Habitat Protection Zones of Australias Great Barrier Reef Marine Park allow multiple types of fishing.
I served on an international team that published a broad framework for planning and assessing marine protected areas in 2021. Our key message was that effectively conserving ocean habitats and marine life will require working together with local communities and governments to create more marine protected areas and set tighter curbs on destructive activities.
We designed this guide to provide an accurate, science-based picture of how much actual conservation these protected areas will deliver. It complements the International Union for Conservation of Natures well-established categories for protected areas guidelines that the United Nations and many national governments use for defining protected areas.The IUCN categories describe types of management at various sites. For example, a Category II national park sets aside large swaths of land or sea. But the categories dont specify what kinds of activities are allowed there or describe their impact. Our guide adds four new elements that are particularly relevant for tracking and decision-making.First, it identifies whether a protected area is simply a concept, an operational area with effective governance and regulations, or something in between. This is important, because it can take years to move from drafting a proposal to actually conserving a swath of ocean.
Second, the guide outlines four levels of protection: 1) fully protected, with no destructive activities allowed; 2) highly protected, with only minimal human impacts; 3) lightly protected, with moderate impacts; 4) minimally protected, with destructive activities allowed.
This last category can still qualify as a protected area if conserving biodiversity is its primary goal and no industrial activities, like mining and drilling, are permitted.
Third, successful marine protected areas must be planned, designed and managed equitably. An open process is crucial to earn public support. This includes co-managing and incorporating traditional knowledge from Indigenous peoples and the experience of local fishers and other people who use the area.
Finally, once a marine protected area is established, it needs to receive adequate political support and financing, particularly for projects that rely on international investment.
Applying these criteria will help policymakers develop more effective marine protections and assess what existing protected areas are accomplishing. For instance, measured by these standards, we found that only 3% of all existing and pledged marine protected areas from Our Ocean Conferences would be considered fully or highly protected.
Experts in Canada, Indonesia, the U.S., and other countries are already using this guide to evaluate existing marine protected areas so that communities and governments can make informed decisions and adjust policies accordingly.
While ocean protection has far to go, I see reason for optimism. At the most recent Our Ocean Conference, in the Pacific island nation of Palau in April nations made more than 400 new commitments to take steps including creating new protected areas and reducing marine pollution and illegal and unregulated fishing.
These pledges involved some $16.35 billion in funding, on top of $91.4 billion already committed at previous conferences. I believe that if nations use these resources to create the kind of high-quality protected areas described in our guide, there is great hope for conserving ocean life.
Vanessa Constant, associate program officer with the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, contributed to this article.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The Top 10 Ocean Biodiversity Hotspots to Protect
Here is the original post:
What Do Ocean Preserves Really Safeguard? That Depends The Revelator - The Revelator
- Seychelles to send 3 sportspeople to Olympics in Paris - Seychelles News Agency - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Seychelles working towards One Health platform for humans and animals - Seychelles News Agency - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Seychelles' Authorities Offering Reward for Info On Suspected Gas Attacks - AllAfrica - Top Africa News - April 20th, 2024 [April 20th, 2024]
- Photo Feature: College of Education faculty visit University of Seychelles - Communique - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- High Seas Treaty Will Help Defend Small Island Nations' Fisheries - The Maritime Executive - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- The best time to visit the Seychelles - Cond Nast Traveller India - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African countries eligible for visa on arrival to the UAE - Business Insider Africa - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Tanzanian national sentenced 12 years in prison in Seychelles for importation of cocaine - Seychelles News Agency - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Hilton Announces the Opening of Canopy by Hilton Seychelles - Franchising.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Hilton opens first Canopy branded Seychelles resort - TravelMole - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Why Mauritius and Seychelles are the only African countries granted visa-on-arrival access to the UAE - Ventures Africa - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Seychelles and US complete 2nd bilateral military operation within EEZ - Seychelles News Agency - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Seychelles participates in the 22nd Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council - Africa.com - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Tourism Seychelles and Turkey Tourism Enhance Relationship - eTurboNews | eTN - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Seychelles and Bahrain Enjoy Tourism Networking Dinner - eTurboNews | eTN - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Implementing the debt-for-nature swaps for marine protected areas: case studies from Seychelles and Belize ... - Nature.com - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Seychelles introduces world of immersive experiences offering profound insight into local culture - Travel Trade Jouurnal - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Appointment of the new Commissioner General of the Seychelles Revenue Commission - Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Air Seychelles cancels direct flights to Tel Aviv as of October 13 ... - Seychelles News Agency - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Condor Airlines Becomes Latest Airline To Resume Flights To ... - Simple Flying - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Seychelles Opposition Leader Patrick Herminie Arrested for ... - Bitter Winter - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Seychelles' 5 Leaders of the Opposition in the Third Republic - Seychelles News Agency - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- 5 customs administrations from Indian Ocean agree to create ... - Seychelles News Agency - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Ocean Science as a Pillar of Sustainable Ocean Management: - IOC-UNESCO - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Supreme Court ruling tells LGBTQ people in Mauritius that their ... - OHCHR - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Bitget Lists Big Time (Big Time) in the Innovation and GameFi Zone - PR Newswire - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Governor General to welcome new heads of mission to Canada - Gouverneure gnrale du Canada - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Letters of Credence Ceremony | The Governor General of Canada - Gouverneure gnrale du Canada - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Seychelles Breweries "fully committed" to campaigns against obesity ... - Seychelles News Agency - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- Air Seychelles denies flight to Israel made emergency landing in ... - The Times of Israel - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- Free sterilisation of dogs camp in Seychelles to start in October - Seychelles News Agency - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- Seychelles: Small Islands With Big Aspirations - AllAfrica - Top Africa News - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- Observer Group lauds Elections Commission of Maldives in its ... - Commonwealth - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- 25 of the best hotels in the Indian Ocean - The Times - October 9th, 2023 [October 9th, 2023]
- Danny Faure, Former President of the Republic of Seychelles to ... - Commonwealth - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Appointment of the Board of Seychelles Licensing Authority and its ... - African Business - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Seychelles launches national survey on cardiovascular and non ... - Seychelles News Agency - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Ehi Braimah: Blue economy will boost Nigeria's revenue -- no ... - TheCable - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Saudi women's football teams could play in Oceania under new deal - RNZ - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Nuveen Q&A: There is lack of understanding over the potential of ... - ESG Clarity - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Russia and Seychelles Consider Increasing Direct Flights Amidst ... - RusTourismNews - August 14th, 2023 [August 14th, 2023]
- Russia steps up the pressure in northeast Ukraine - Seychelles News Agency - August 14th, 2023 [August 14th, 2023]
- Joint Press release : Seychelles hosts the first African Peer Review ... - African Business - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Good governance: Seychelles takes part in APRM with African ... - Seychelles News Agency - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Seychelles' year-on-year inflation goes down to -1.3% as of June 2023 - Seychelles News Agency - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Around the World in 50 Destinations - Cruising World - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Iceland, Hungary helped shelter Belarusian businessman from EU ... - EURACTIV - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Rwanda, Seychelles Waive Visas, Ink Five Pacts to Deepen Relations - AllAfrica - Top Africa News - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Seychelles' fiscal performance in Q1 much better year-on-year - Seychelles News Agency - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Harnessing Renewable Energy in Seychelles: Challenges and ... - EnergyPortal.eu - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Seychelles' La Gogue Dam back in operation with 60% increased ... - Seychelles News Agency - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- Seychelles' Aride Island Nature Reserve Temporarily Closes Until ... - AllAfrica - Top Africa News - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- For more than a year, Russia's richest man cleverly dodged the ... - Luxurylaunches - June 30th, 2023 [June 30th, 2023]
- How debt-for-nature swaps successfully finance UNESCO World Heritage conservation in Belize and Seychelles - EIN News - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Demographics of Seychelles - Wikipedia - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Aldabra Atoll Seychelles cruise port schedule | CruiseMapper - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- After oxygen therapy for 5 years, Indian doctors help Seychelles woman breathe on her own again - The Indian Express - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Air Seychelles to Launch New Route to Almaty This December - Astana Times - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- Seychelles - United States Department of State - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Seychelles: Appointment of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Service Authority - African Business - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- University of Plymouth: Changing the world, one student at a time - Study International News - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Africa & Crypto: Top 5 countries and 10 best tokens - Ventures Africa - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- The treasure islands where tortoises have right of way - The Telegraph - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Gambia takes interest in Seychelles' state-owned enterprises oversight - The Point - The Point - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Oceania Cruises Announces 2025 'Around the World in 180 Days' Voyage - Cruise Radio - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- An Anxious Prince William Once Confided in the Queen About Having Second Thoughts About Kate Middleton - MarieClaire.com - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Ether is strong but Bitcoin drops below $24,000 - Fortune - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Homosexuality Is Still Illegal in These 67 U.N. Countries - Newsweek - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- A Menu Sample of Dishes to Try When in the Seychelles - Africa.com - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- Committee against Torture Discusses Reports on Follow-up to Concluding Observations, Individual Communications, and Reprisals - OHCHR - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Japan's passport is the most powerful in the world where does SA rank? - Moneyweb - July 29th, 2022 [July 29th, 2022]
- Five things South Africans should do in the Seychelles - Mail and Guardian - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- KuCoin Expands its Reaching in Metaverse by Launching an Immersive Metaverse Office in Ertha - Business Wire - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Emirates Hopes To Resolve 'Travel Chaos' at London Heathrow Within 2 Weeks - Aviation Pros - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Crypto Trading Firm TPS Capital Denied Ties to Insolvent Three Arrows. Court Documents Indicate a Connection - Yahoo Finance - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Crypto Exchange OKX Is Paying $20 Million-Plus To Sponsor Manchester City Training Kit This Season - Forbes - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Colombo Security Conclave agrees to tackle common threats - The Hindu - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- President Ramkalawan Officially Launched the Institute of Football Seychelles - African Business - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- As Growth Slows, Madagascar Needs a New Reform Drive To Steer Clear of the Economic Storm - World Bank Group - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]
- American Airlines and Qatar Airways expand codeshare agreement to 16 additional countries - Aviation24.be - June 5th, 2022 [June 5th, 2022]