Marine Protected Areas

Published on 04 Apr 2025

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated places in the ocean where human activities are regulated to conserve and protect marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.

Need for Marine Protected Areas

• Biodiversity Conservation: It helps in protecting the diversity of marine species and their habitats.

• Example: Sea cucumber conservation area in Dr KK Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve of Lakshadweep

• Sustainable Fisheries: It promotes sustainable fishing methods, aids in the recovery of fish stocks, and helps avoid overfishing.

• Example: incorporation of mangrove trees in the aquaculture in Sundarbans

• Climate change Adaptation: MPAs help marine species adapt to changing environmental conditions by safeguarding diverse habitats.

• Example: Canada’s Marine Conservation Network focuses on carbon sequestration.

• Preservation of Critical Habitats: It protects important marine habitats such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves.

• Example: More than 70 hectares of mangroves have been planted and 600 sqm of coral reefs transplanted in the Gulf of Mannar.

• Economic Benefits: Local economies can benefit from MPAs by attracting tourists, fostering sustainable tourism and recreation, and other employment opportunities.

• Example: Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park has helped to generate 8000 green jobs benefitting more than 7000 women.

Challenges of Marine Protected Areas

• Inadequate Funding and Resources: Many MPAs lack adequate funds and resources for proper management and conservation efforts.

• Example: According to World Ocean Initiative research, 65% have insufficient budget to meet basic management needs and 91% of MPAs suffer from inadequate staff capacity.

• Conflicting Interests and Stakeholder Engagement: The interests of different stakeholders, such as local communities, industries, and policymakers, conflict with conservation goals.

• Example: iSimangaliso wetland park where a deadly battle was observed between rural Nibela community and conservationists.

• Illegal Fishing and Poaching: Lack of resources and surveillance system lead to inefficient monitoring resulting in illegal fishing and poaching.

• Example: According to research, an Average of 19 times as many suspected illegal fishing vessels per month in 2022 compared with 2010 to 2020 in an Indian Ocean MPA.

• Climate Change Impacts: Increases in sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events, pose threats to marine ecosystems within and outside MPAs.

• Lack of Local Community Involvement: Conservation objectives and enforcement measures could be jeopardized in the absence of local community involvement.

• Limited Public Awareness and Education: Inaction and unlawful activity may arise from a lack of public awareness and understanding of the significance of MPAs.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Program: It focuses on sustainable development, community participation and biodiversity conservation.

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): It works to implement the Biological Diversity Act, of 2002, and promote sustainable management of biological resources including marine biodiversity.

• Wild Life Protection Act of India (1972): It provides legal protection to marine animals. There are a total of 33 major Marine Protected Areas in India under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification: It prohibits developmental activities and disposal of wastes in fragile coastal ecosystems.

International initiatives

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): It is an international treaty that addresses the conservation of biodiversity, including marine biodiversity.

• UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves: The programme designates biodiversity reserves including coastal and marine regions which aim for biodiversity conservation with sustainable development.

• Global Ocean Alliance: It is a coalition of countries aiming to protect at least 30% of the world's ocean by 2030.

• Global Ocean Refuge System (GLORES): It provides an incentive structure to improve the quality of marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world and accelerate implementation.

Way Forward

• Performance analysis: Meeting the standards of the widely recognized IUCN Green List standard is the most effective and efficient approach to measure conservation performance of MPAs.

• Funding Mechanisms: Establish and explore different funding mechanisms including public-private partnerships, grants, and international support.

• Local community participation: Involve local communities in the design, planning, and management of MPAs.

• Example: Papua New Guinea Govt. has consulted local communities for curtailing the harvest of threatened species and restore the health of fisheries in MPAs.

No-take Zones: Create no-take zones inside MPAs to facilitate the recovery of fish populations and their contribution to fisheries outside the boundaries of the protected areas.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Marine biodiversity Biodiversity Ecosystem Conservation

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation