13.10 Making Connections

DESIGNING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Background: The health of the oceans affects our well-being, regardless of whether or not we live on the coast. Historically, we have treated the oceans as an endless resource provider as well as a bottomless waste receptacle. Numerous scientific studies show that human activities are degrading ocean ecosystems around the world, and these changes are impairing the ocean’s ability to provide the ecosystem services we rely on.

Case: One way to protect coastal ocean ecosystems is by creating effective marine protected areas (MPAs) (see Chapter 14 and the Fisheries and Oceans Canada web page on MPAs, http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/marineareas-zonesmarines/mpa-zpm/index-eng.htm). You have been selected to be part of a team to evaluate current MPAs and develop guidelines for the future design and management of MPAs. Based on your research and analysis, write a position paper that includes the following:

1. An evaluation of the importance of coastal ocean ecosystems and the challenges of managing them.
2. An analysis of MPAs as a means of protecting coastal ocean ecosystems, including:
   1. an assessment of the ecological and human cost/benefits of establishing MPAs to determine what management priorities and techniques should be.
   2. an evaluation of current MPAs in Canada to determine criteria for effective design, and to assess whether Canada’s MPAs meet global standards in terms of size and activity restrictions.
3. An assessment of the potential challenges to designing and implementing MPAs and a discussion about how to address these challenges.