How Much Do You Know About Marine Protected Areas?
Well-managed and fully protected marine protected areas have the ability to rebuild and improve the health of our ocean.
James Watt/NOAA
The ocean covers about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and is critical to all life on this planet. But the health of our marine ecosystems is in steep decline due to overfishing, destructive fishing methods, illegal fishing, oil and gas drilling, and other extractive activities, along with rampant pollution and a warming climate.
Evidence suggests that safeguarding more of the ocean in marine protected areas (MPAs) can help it recover. How much do you know about this key ocean conservation tool?
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? What should be the main objective of any MPA?
+ To achieve the long-term conservation of nature
! According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), for an area to be recognized as an MPA it must be “a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated, and managed … to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.”
- Temporarily protect an ecosystem
- Regulate fisheries
- None of the above
? Which of the following is not a characteristic of an effective MPA?
- Fully protected
- Well-enforced
- Large
+ Recently designated
! A 2014 study found that MPAs yield the greatest benefits when they have five key characteristics: Large, fully protected, isolated, well-enforced, and long-standing.
? The marine ecosystem is ailing because of problems that include:
- Habitat destruction
- Ocean warming
- Pollution
+ All of the above
! Our ocean is under threat due to a suite of human activities, including habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and harmful fishing, along with the impacts of climate change. Research shows that large, fully protected marine reserves are a key tool to addressing these issues, and can potentially reverse some of the damage that has already been done.
? In 2016, members of the IUCN recommended that __ percent of the ocean should be protected.
- 10
- 20
+ 30
! Studies show that protecting at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 will give marine species the room they need to feed and reproduce free from human threats, thus helping to ensure rich biodiversity and sustainable fisheries far into the future. Increased protections can also bring economic benefits to coastal communities and help marine flora and fauna build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
- 40
? How much of the ocean is currently covered by strong safeguards?
- About 20 percent
- 10 percent
+ Less than 4 percent
! According to the Marine Conservation Institute’s Atlas of Marine Protection, about 3.6 percent of the ocean is under some form of protection, while only 2 percent is considered fully protected.
- 5 percent
? Beyond ocean conservation, MPAs can lead to which of the following benefits?
- Increased tourism and recreation
- Preservation of traditional cultures closely linked to the sea
- Neither of the above
+ Both A and B
! MPAs bring economic gain to coastal communities through tourism and recreation, while maintaining the ocean connections that are central to many cultures through the preservation of time-honored and sacred places and practices.
? Which of the following marine species can benefit from the creation of MPAs?
- Whales
- Dolphins
- Sharks and rays
+ All of the above
! Many marine protected areas serve as a critical waypoint for large migratory species, like those listed above. These protected areas provide a safe haven where these species can feed, breed, and rest during their migration.
? True or false: Science shows that fisheries can benefit from the creation of MPAs.
+ True
! Fully or strongly protected areas can increase both fish abundance and size. Thriving fish populations are more likely to supply adult and larval fish to areas beyond the borders of the MPA, thereby sustaining or increasing the catch of nearby fisheries.
- False
? How many species are found exclusively in the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Marine Protected Area?
- Less than 50
- 78
+ 142
! The Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Marine Reserve is home to at least 142 species found nowhere else, including 27 that are threatened or endangered.
- More than 150
Related Experts
Matt Rand
Senior Director
Marine Habitat Protection
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