Question 1

What Are Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)?

Accepted Answer

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are well-defined geographical spaces where human activity is limited to protect natural values and allow the ocean to recover, ensuring the conservation of nature and activities.
MPAs protect species and habitats, as well as the ecological integrity of ecosystems, their biodiversity, and productivity because they are areas of reproduction, refuge, migration routes, or where rare species of high natural interest are found.
MPAs are assessed based on their implementation status, level of protection, and intended ecological outcomes. Science has shown that MPAs with high or full protection levels allow for greater (and faster) ecological, social, and economic benefits, enabling nature recovery and enhancement.

Question 2

What Are the Benefits of Marine Protected Areas?

Accepted Answer

The main benefits of MPAs are:
 • Maintaining existing nature (full protection MPAs).
 • Recovery of degraded ecosystems.
 • For fisheries: protection results in larger, more abundant fish populations and a higher number of juveniles (greater biomass, abundance, and recruitment).
 • Mitigating climate change by promoting carbon sequestration.
 • More resilient ecosystems to external threats such as pollution, extreme events (storms, floods), and erosion, contributing to risk reduction through coastal protection.
 • Increased tourism and recreational activities (economic and health benefits), resulting in improved livelihoods.
 • Protection of social and cultural values.
 • Research and educational opportunities (greater ocean literacy and respect).
 • Just governance (rights and sharing of benefits and responsibilities through transparent and inclusive decision-making processes).

By improving the quality of marine ecosystems, sustainable use of natural resources and associated services is promoted, enhancing the value of the tourism, fisheries, and trade sectors.

Additionally, it provides educational, scientific, and cultural activities based on healthy and vibrant nature. Well-managed areas with high or full protection promote all these benefits inside and outside protected areas (e.g., through the *spillover effect). In addition to benefits for fishing, MPAs create opportunities to enhance the sea that would not otherwise exist.
*Spillover: movement of fish from protected marine areas to surrounding areas.

Azores establishes largest Marine Protected Area Network in North Atlantic