“Arm the Fish!”: Addressing the Global Challenges of Marine Protected Areas

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas” declare specific marine spaces subject to unique legal protection, and currently serve as the most comprehensive approach to ecosystem conservation. In this report, MPAs have been categorized into three specific kinds of sites: small scale/coastal MPAs, large scale/cross-regional MPAs, and high seas/international MPAs. MPAs can be effective tools in limiting threats and promoting the resiliency of marine areas. Of the many threats pressuring the health of ocean environments, this Task Force has chosen to focus on IUU fishing. Our policy recommendations seek to strengthen the existing legal and logistical frameworks in weak, “paper park,” MPAs, in order to promote sustainable fishing practices within their bounds.