A marine protected area (MPA) is an area of ocean especially dedicated to the protection of biodiversity, and cultural resources & activities, managed with the local community. MPAs include marine parks, nature reserves and locally managed marine areas that protect reefs, seagrass beds, shipwrecks, archaeological sites, tidal lagoons, mudflats, saltmarshes, mangroves, rock platforms, underwater areas on the coast and the seabed.
One of the most successful MPA stories resides in Rajat Ampat (West Papua). The enormously biodiverse area (it’s sometimes referred to as a species factory!) is composed of seven MPAs managed by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in partnership with local communities and support from international NGOs.
You can learn more about it by watching the Tales by Light episode with @shawnheinrichs and how sustainable protection has been implemented here.
The world faces a global emergency over its oceans, with scientists warning that we face a mass extinction of marine life unless 30% of global ocean space is placed within MPAs by 2030. According to MPA Atlas, only 4.8% of the world’s oceans are currently protected in actively managed marine protected areas.
