New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, announced on 28 September 2015 that his nation plans to create a South Pacific marine sanctuary the size of France, saying it would protect one of the world’s pristine ocean environments. The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary would cover an area of 620,000 square kilometers about 1,000 kilometers off New Zealand’s […]
Conservation needs places where nature is left wild; but only a quarter of coastal countries have no-take Marine Reserves. ‘Marine Protected Areas’ (MPAs) have been used to indicate conservation progress but we found that 94% allow fishing and thus cannot protect all aspects of biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation should focus on Marine Reserves, not MPAs. Highlights […]
This depressing series of events raises lots of questions Bob Earll Fines Do the fines for fishing in MPAs need to be higher since those at present are clearly no deterrent? Perhaps the fines should build cumulatively on particular vessels or owners. One, two, three strikes and you’re out? In any event they cause disproportionate […]
Decent design – Before and After Control impact (BACI) – to establish the effects of MPAs ‘Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly being implemented as tools to conserve and manage fisheries and target species. Because there are opportunity costs to conservation, there is a need for science based assessment of MPAs. Here, we present one […]
Nick Underdown: Scottish Environment Link: ‘ We’ve just published this: This blog has attempted to chart the long, and sometimes torturous, process of setting up Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland. Many of you may be wondering what is happening with Scotland’s MPAs? Are they going to be paper parks? Or are they finally going […]
‘The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has expressed disbelief and anger at the new management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scottish waters announced by the Scottish Government today (11 June). The SFF maintains that the measures announced go far beyond the proportionate and evidential approach that was promised for the management arrangements of the […]
Rural Affairs Secretary announces ambitious marine protection plan in Scottish waters. The Scottish Government is putting in place ambitious management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scottish waters, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead announced http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Progress-for-MPA-network-19e9.aspx . Following extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of marine stakeholders, […]
Andrew Binnie: Marine Scotland’s proposed management options for Marine Protected Areas will continue to allow dredging and bottom trawling within large areas of the South Arran MPA and many other Scottish MPAs. Marine Scotland and the Scottish Government will make final management decisions this summer. It is important they realise coastal communities, marine conservationists and […]