Discussion led by Argenis Cátala, CIAM 6117

1. NOAA Marine Protected
Areas
ARGENIS CÁTALA SANCHEZ
845-02-1635

2. Definition:
 Marine protected areas (MPAs) are areas of the oceans or Great
Lakes that are protected for a conservation purpose.
 In the United States, there are over 1,600 MPAs spanning a range of
habitats, including the open ocean, coastal areas, inter-tidal zones,
estuaries, and the Great Lakes.
 About 41 percent of U.S. marine waters are protected in some way,
with three percent in highly protected no-take MPAs to protect
sensitive species and habitats

3. National system of MPAs
 Different jurisdictions are both federal, tribal, state and local
agencies managing over hundreds of MPA in the United States
causing a small disconnection and loss of opportunities to share
lessons on best management practices.
 Managed by the federal government, the national system of MPAs
brings work together at the regional and national levels to achieve
common objectives for conserving the nation's important natural
and cultural resources

4. Restrictions
 One question many people have about marine protected areas
(MPAs) is whether or not there are restrictions associated with the
use of these areas. ”depends”
 MPAs are established for the conservation of their natural or cultural
resources.
 there can be restrictions on certain activities in MPAs, nearly all U.S.
MPAs allow multiple uses, including fishing.
 Marines areas are more restrictives. limiting the catching of fish,
collection of shells, or other activities where something may be
removed from the area.
 Marine reserves are sometimes referred to as “no take” MPAs, and
occupy about three percent of U.S. waters.

5. Classifying MPA’S
 National MPA Center developed a system to help describe these
areas using characteristics that are common to most MPAs.
 The characteristics include conservation focus, level of protection,
permanence of protection, constancy of protection, and
ecological scale of protection.
 The end result is a common vocabulary for MPA managers,
something that comes in handy when exchanging ideas and
lessons learned or working to identify additional areas that should
be protected.

6. MPA Inventory
 Managers can use the Inventory for marine management and
conservation planning. In fact, the primary purpose of the Inventory
is to maintain baseline information on MPAs to the assist in the
development of the National System of MPAs.

7. NOAA’S National MPA’S Center
 The National MPA Center was established in 2000 following
Executive Order 13158.
 The executive order was issued to help protect the significant
natural and cultural resources within the marine environment for the
benefit of present and future generations.
 The order directs the Department of Commerce, the Department of
the Interior, and other federal agencies to work closely with states,
territories, tribes, fishery management councils, and groups with an
interest in marine resource conservation to develop a scientifically-
based, comprehensive National System of MPAs representing
diverse U.S. marine ecosystems.

8. Science and Stewardship
 The MPA Center uses science to assess the nature of MPAs and how
they are used to sustain healthy marine ecosystems.
 MPA Center focuses its objectives on enhancing MPA stewardship
by strengthening capacity for planning, management, and
evaluation.
 For example, the MPA Center is working with other MPA programs to
share lessons about how they are planning for and adapting to
climate change

9. MPA Programs
 There are many different types of MPAs including national marine
sanctuaries and national estuarine research reserves.
 13 national marine sanctuaries.
 28 national estuarine research reserves.
 Other types of MPAs include national parks, national wildlife refuges,
and state areas for the protection of habitat, fish, and wildlife.
 The National System of MPAs is helping to weave all of these areas
together into an effective network that can protect species that
move through various habitats during different life stages, and that
can meet common challenges faced by MPA programs.

10. National Systems of Mpa’s

11. CEC MARINE ECOREGIONS

12. MPA Programs in USA

13. Marine Sanctuaries

14. Questions?
 What do you say about marine protection strategies?
 Which it has strengths and weaknesses strategy NOAA?
 Do you believe that people are aware of which areas and which
practices are appropriate in each maritime zone?
 Do you believe that Puerto Rico is an awareness of protected
areas?

15. THANKS!!!