Introduction

Abstract

This special issue provides a synthesis of the status and development of marine protected area (MPA) networks at regional, national, and subnational scales in response to the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) commitments to establish a Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS) to reduce threats to marine resources in the region. The six articles selected describe: the status of MPAs in the Coral Triangle; key principles and strategies to apply at a regional scale under the Coral Triangle Marine Protected Area System (CTMPAS) Framework and Action Plan; successes and challenges regarding developing a regional database (the Coral Triangle Atlas) to track progress toward MPA targets; ecological considerations and guidelines for designing marine reserves to maximize benefits for fisheries management, biodiversity protection, and climate adaptation; social–economic drivers affecting marine resource use, and strategies required to improve food security and incomes; and case studies (one from each of the six countries) that exemplify different approaches, best practices, and lessons learned for developing MPA networks in the Coral Triangle. This introduction provides the context regarding the Coral Triangle and MPA commitments under the CTI-CFF, which endorsed a Regional Plan of Action for marine conservation in 2009.