Marine Protected Areas: An Overview Kate Smukler New England Regional Coordinator www.mpa.gov
MPAs: Many types, many purposes Conservation and sustainable use Important natural and cultural resources Significant economic contributions Range from multiple use to no take/no access Courtesy Jim Toomey Definition and criteria vary across agencies, programs, and regions Just one type of place-based marine management
MPA Executive Order 13158 Requires the development of a scientifically based, comprehensive national system of MPAs representing diverse U.S. marine ecosystems, and the Nation s natural and cultural resources. Establishes National Marine Protected Areas Center Calls for MPA Federal Advisory Committee Defines marine protected area as: any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein. Requires consultation and coordination with states, territories, tribes, Regional Fishery Management Councils, and others
MPA Federal Advisory Committee Appointed by the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior 30 Non-Federal Members 10 Federal Ex Officio members FAC Draft Report includes: National System Goal, Objectives and Definitions Guiding Principles for National System Proposed Structure for National System
MPA Executive Order 13158 What does it do? Requires agency and public participation in plans and actions. Supports measuring effectiveness. Supports science-based design, management, and site support. Supports action by existing authorities. Creates the National MPA Center.
MPA Executive Order 13158 What does it NOT do? Does not designate any new sites. Does not create any new federal authorities. Does not change any state, local, or tribal authorities. Does not interfere with agencies exercise of their own authorities. Does not focus only on no-take areas.
Interpreting Definitions any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein Marine Managed Area (MMA) Marine Protected Area
Effort to Inventory Marine Managed Areas First U.S. inventory of its kind Ambitious, multi agency effort State, territory, and federal agency participation Collects consistent data, including GIS Tool for managers and stakeholders Completion by end of 2005 Massachusetts sites online, March 2005 Understanding
reserve State MPA Programs monument Complex Scope of U.S. MPAs: A Mix of Programs and Terms recreation area sanctuary National Park Service National Fish & Wildlife Service National Marine Fisheries Service park critical habitat National Estuarine Research Reserve Program zone National Marine Sanctuaries Program refuge seashore Fishery Management Councils Territory MPA Programs National MPA Center natural area conservation area Fishery closed area preserve Tribes
Terminology Matters
Classifying MPAs Using Six Design Characteristics 1. Primary conservation focus 2. Level of protection 3. Permanence of protection 4. Constancy of protection 5. Ecological scale of protection 6. Restrictions on extractive uses
1. Primary Conservation Focus Natural Heritage established and managed principally to sustain, conserve and restore the area s natural characteristics and processes, and the ecological services, human uses and societal values they support. Cultural Heritage established principally to protect and understand submerged cultural resources that reflect the nation s maritime history and traditional cultural connections to the sea. * Sustainable Production established and managed principally to support the continued sustainable extraction of renewable living resources that live within the MPA or that are exploited elsewhere.
2. Level of Protection Uniform multiple use Multiple Use (estimated 99% of MPAs) Zoned multiple use Zoned (multiple use) with no take areas No take No-Take (less than 1% of MPAs) No impact No access
Clearer Description of Sites Primary Conservation Goal + Level of Protection = Purpose and Impact of an MPA (i.e. what, why, how) For Example: Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MI) A multiple use, cultural heritage area Gulf of Mexico Gag Grouper Closures (offshore FL) A multiple use, sustainable production area
Developing a National System Build and enhance partnerships and coordination across existing MPA programs Establish common terminology Three system tracks: Natural Heritage Cultural Heritage Sustainable Production
Upcoming New England MPA Meetings May 16 th, 2005 New England Regional Public Dialogue Session Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, Maine RSVP by May 6 th to mpacomments@noaa.gov May 17 th 19 th, 2005 MPA Federal Advisory Committee Meeting Doubletree Hotel, Portland, Maine Opportunity for public comment Draft agenda posted on www.mpa.gov
More Info? Questions? http://mpa.gov Natural Heritage Sustainable Production Cultural Heritage