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SW1 3

SW13

M  A R I N E A  R E A W I T H I N MPA  S

ORITY ON

RI

SW14

M PA

MPA M  A N A G E M E N T

RE

TH

EF

S FOR HEAL

EFFECTIVENES S

What Is It?

BENCHMARK

Marine area within MPAs (SW 13) refers to the

At

At least 12% of the MAR marine area

percentage of a country's total territorial-seas area

within MPAs.

that lies within legally established marine protected

areas (MPAs). Here, an MPA is defined as "any area of

All MPAs have on-site management (i.e.,

intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying

no "paper parks") with at least 70% of

water and associated flora and fauna, historical and

them routinely conducting effectiveness

cultural features, which has been reserved by law

evaluations. Develop a regional,

or other effective means to protect part or all of the

standardized method to evaluate MPA

enclosed environment."38

effectiveness.

effectiveness.

MPA management effectiveness (SW 14) is a

systematic and structured measure of the degree

TA R G E T

to which management actions are achieving stated

At

At least 20% of the MAR marine area

goals and objectives. This indicator is designed to

serve as a general summary index that allows the

within MPAs.

within

tracking of MPA performance within a country or the

region (combining individual MPA evaluations into a

All

All MPAs are routinely evaluated using

meta-analysis).

a regionally adopted protocol that

incorporates biophysical, social and

Why Do We Measure It?

governance indicators. Average regional

Marine protected areas are a key component of marine

performance is ranked as good to

conservation programs. They help protect marine

excellent.

excellent.

biodiversity by conserving critical habitats, providing

RED FL AG

refugia and replenishment zones for heavily exploited

fisheries resources, and fostering a higher level of

No progress towards meeting target

No

enforcement and educational activities. Globally,

the establishment of MPAs has lagged behind that

percentage of the MAR marine area

of terrestrial protected areas, with only 0.6% of the

within MPAs.

world's marine area under protection36 versus 12%

of the land surface37. In the last decade, creation of

Any reduction in percentage of MPAs

marine protected areas has become a higher priority,

being managed and evaluated.

as evidenced by the dramatic increase in the global

number of MPAs ― from approximately 1,300 in

Any decline in effectiveness ratings.

Any

199538 to 4,600 in 200536.

These two closely related indicators are used to

track MPA success. The overall conservation goal is

level, as a measure of progress towards these

to develop and effectively manage an ecologically

recommended targets. There is some debate over

representative and functional network of marine and

whether all of this protected area should be fully

coastal protected areas in the MAR.

protected or not.

The first metric, marine area within MPAs, addresses

The second metric, MPA management effectiveness,

the question of "How much is protected?" -- regardless

directly addresses the question of whether MPAs

of the MPAs' purposes or levels of management.

are effective in achieving their stated objectives.

Marine scientists and international agencies have

Each MPA has specific objectives and protective

recommended that approximately 20% to 30% of a

measures included in its designation. Some MPAs, for

country's sea be included in MPA networks to achieve

example, are designated no-take zones, while others

conservation and sustainable fisheries goals39. This

are intended to serve as multiple-use or marine

indicator can be assessed at the country or regional

wilderness areas. Many newly designated MPAs are

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