Marine Protected Areas

Establishing Effective Marine Protective Areas

The Situation

Marine Protected Areas are gaining popularity as a way to manage and conserve fisheries. However, we are just beginning to understand how these areas should be designed and the real benefits that they can provide.

The Goal

The Perry Institute for Marine Science had two goals. Our first was to increase the understanding of the management benefits that Marine Protected Areas can provide - particularly 'no take' areas and fully-protected marine reserves. Our second goal was to improve the design of these areas - the size, shape, and location - and the design of Marine Protected Area networks to best meet conservation and management objectives.

The Approach

The Perry Institute for Marine Science supported and conducted focused research - and continues to do so - aimed at evaluating the ecological benefits of existing areas, and understanding the specific benefits they provide. We do this through both our in-house science program and through Caribbean Marine Research Center, NOAA's Undersea Research Program in the Caribbean.

The Result

Perry Institute for Marine Science researchers have contributed to the design, creation and evaluation of Marine Protected Areas in several Caribbean nations, including the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in Columbia, the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in The Bahamas, and several sites in Antigua and Grenada. IN addition, Perry Institute for Marine Science and NOAA-funded science has increased the world's understanding of how these areas work, which is helping to improve the design and use of future Marine Protected Areas. The study and design of Marine Protected Areas continues to be a high priority for the Perry Institute for Marine Science and NOAA.

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