Marine Protected Areas Research Articles

Socio-economic factors boosting the effectiveness of marine protected areas: A Bayesian network analysis

Marine protected areas (MPAs) represent an example of nature-based solutions for the conservation and sustainable management of marine biodiversity. Despite the number of MPAs growing worldwide, many of them fail to achieve their goals, sometimes up to the point of becoming the so-called “paper parks”: protected areas without real protection or enforcement that are virtually non-existent in terms of their effectiveness in achieving the ecological and socioeconomic goals for which they have been set up. Following the Kunming–Montreal Biodiversity Agreement (COP 15), the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, global MPA coverage should increase substantially in the coming years. Hence, identifying the factors that contribute to raising the effectiveness of MPAs is pivotal to informing their planning and management. Our study introduces a model based on the Bayesian network that allows testing how different socioeconomic factors (e.g., stakeholder involvement, increased communication and enforcement) can impact the effectiveness of MPAs. The system is a user-friendly decision-support tool to quantify the contribution of each factor in the creation of a successful MPA, thus narrowing the gap between science and decision-making. We modelled the evolution of the effectiveness of MPAs under three contrasting policy-relevant scenarios based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change frameworks. Our results indicate that the highest and lowest the effectiveness of MPAs is achieved under the “global sustainability” and “national enterprise” scenarios, respectively. Our work sheds light on the complexity of the interactions among the different factors underpinning the effectiveness of MPAs and supports the growth process of MPAs at the global level on the pathway towards the sustainable exploitation of marine living resources.

Diversity and ecotourism on multipurpose marine protected areas

Beyond its ecological benefits, there is a growing call for the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) for varied economic activities. Due to the decline in the wild catch, there is an increase in demand for farmed fish and a call for the development of aquaculture production in marine protected areas. In addition, the diversity in marine protected areas is suitable for the introduction of a tourism industry. Therefore, we need to design a clear scientific management system that balances the main goal of marine protected areas with the economic benefits, of aquaculture and tourism activities. This paper aims to determine the optimal size of the marine protected areas, the aquaculture size in the protected areas, and the level of tourism activities that maximize the overall benefit of the stakeholders. This is vital for the co-existence and sustainability of different sectors such as aquaculture production, tourism activities, and open-access fisheries.

Evaluating coral reef restoration in marine protected areas using habitat structural complexity and coral communities.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are widely used to protect at-risk ecosystems. This study employed a combined method to quantify the protection performance on coral reef habitats, integrating coral morphology and topographic relief in the rugosity index. In the Weizhou Island reef in the northern South China Sea, after six years of protection, the no-take areas (NTAs) hosted a greater live coral cover (11.7%) compared to the no-protection areas (NPAs, 6.9%), but had a lower rugosity (1.17) than both the NPAs and the habitat protection areas, suggesting that while MPAs enhance coral cover, their benefits for habitat structural complexity may remain insignificant in the short term (six years). In the NTAs, the contribution of live corals to habitat complexity (28.3%) was lower than that of rubbles (34.4%). Moreover, slow-growing massive corals (e.g., Porites lutea), which usually have low rugosity, contributed a larger portion (up to 20%) to habitat complexity. In contrast, fast-growing, structural complex arborescent corals (e.g., Acropora pruinosa) had a limited contribution (2.3%). Foliose corals, which dominated the coral community also have lower rugosity (1.2 ~ 1.3) compared to massive and arborescent corals, presumably due to phenotypic plasticity in response to specific environmental conditions. This study suggests that prioritizing coral species composition, especially corals with high rugosity, is important for effective reef framework reconstruction.

Navigating large scale ocean science in a Pacific small island developing state

Context In pursuit of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, large scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) are rapidly increasing, especially in small island developing states (SIDS). Many SIDS have limited offshore research expertise or capacity to evaluate the efficacy of LSMPAs. The offshore Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) necessitated the Republic of Palau to develop its offshore research ability aimed at supporting science-based management. Owing to Palau’s important tuna fishery, investigating tuna reproductive biology in the PNMS was prioritized as a first step in evaluating the protective significance of the PNMS for tuna. Aims The aim of this study was to develop a useful and practical platform to conduct large scale ocean research within the context of SIDS. Methods A platform to conduct offshore research was developed. Reproductive histology and the presence and abundance of larvae were used to investigate tuna reproductive biology in the PNMS. Key results Most tunas sampled were mature, with 3 of the 59 sampled fish actively spawning. Twenty-two tuna larvae were collected across five offshore sites, and modeling results suggest larvae originated from these sites. Conclusions Findings suggest tuna spawn, to some extent, within the PNMS, and the PNMS provides local protection to tuna populations during this time. A research platform with five steps for developing, undertaking and understanding offshore research in SIDS was developed. Challenges and tips experienced are also detailed. Implications This platform can support the ever-increasing demand for offshore research in small island, large ocean states with limited resources and expertise.

Recurrent discharges of non-petroleum substances from chemical tankers in Swedish marine Natura 2000 sites are against the aims of EU Directives.

The transport of non-petroleum substances such as vegetable oils, other bio-based oils and their refined products by chemical tankers is increasing worldwide. The majority of the non-petroleum substances carried by chemical tankers will have detrimental effects on the marine environment if accidentally spilled or discharged during tank washing procedures. Swedish Coast Guard aircrafts detected 233 discharges of floating non-petroleum substances in the Swedish territorial sea and Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between 2020 and 2023. The majority of the discharges, 84%, were detected in the EEZ. About 14% of the discharges were detected within protected marine Natura 2000 sites. Together, the detected discharges covered 1071 km2 of sea surface. Discharges in marine Natura 2000 sites covered 228 km2. We conclude that the regulations in the IMO MARPOL Annex II convention are not strict enough to meet the objectives of EU nature legislation regarding protection of sensitive seas areas.

Discovery and Archaeological Characterization of the Wreck of ex-USS Stewart (DD-224) in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Discovery and Archaeological Characterization of the Wreck of ex-USS Stewart (DD-224) in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Streptomyces hygroscopicus and rapamycinicus Evaluated from a U.S. Marine Sanctuary: Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Encode Antibiotic and Chemotherapeutic Secondary Metabolites

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Also threatening the public is the emergence of antibiotic resistance to existing medicines. Despite the challenge to produce viable natural products to market, there continues to be a need within public health to provide new chemotherapeutic drugs such as those exhibiting cytotoxicity and tumor cell growth-inhibitory properties. As marine genomic research advances, it is apparent that marine-derived sediment harbors uniquely potent bioactive compounds compared to their terrestrial counterparts. The Streptomyces genus in particular produces more than 30% of all secondary metabolites currently approved for human health, thus harboring unexplored reservoirs of chemotherapeutic and antibiotic agents to combat emerging disease. The present study identifies the presence of Streptomyces hygroscopicus and rapamycinicus in environmental sediment at locations within the U.S. Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) from 2017 to 2022. Sequencing and bioinformatics methods catalogued biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that drive cytotoxic and antibiotic biochemical processes in samples collected from sites permittable and protected to fishing activity. Poisson regression models confirmed that Sites 1 and 3 had significantly higher occurrences of rapamycinicus than other sites (p < 0.01). Poisson regression models confirmed that Sites 1, 2 and 3 had significantly higher occurrence for Streptomyces hygroscopicus across sites (p < 0.05). Interestingly, permitted fishing sites showed a greater prevalence of both species. Statistical analyses showed a significant difference in aligned hits with polyketide synthases (PKSs) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) by site and between species with hygroscopicus showing a greater quantity than rapamycinicus among Streptomyces spp. (p < 0.05; F = 4.7 > F crit).

Advances in understanding biofilm-based marine microbial corrosion

Abstract Microbially influenced corrosion and biofouling emerge as formidable challenges to the sustainable management and exploitation of marine resources. The primary instigator for these challenges lies in the insidious development of biofilm. Hence, the most direct and pivotal approach to counteracting microbial corrosion and biofouling resides in the advancement of anti-biofilm technologies. Conventional methodologies for combatting biofilm are efficient but have certain drawbacks, particularly environmental contamination and inefficacy. Research into innovative anti-biofilm technologies is imperative for more efficient use of marine resources and protection of the ecological equilibrium of the oceans. This paper offers a detailed examination of biofilm constituents, the complex processes involved in biofilm development, the various factors that affect biofilm formation, and the mechanisms underlying microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Furthermore, the article summarizes emerging, eco-friendly anti-biofilm technologies, while providing the evolving landscape of anti-biofilm strategies and promising prospects.

Effectively managing area-based management tools: A new toolkit for the conservation of marine mammals

Marine mammals play crucial roles in marine ecosystem function yet are threatened by increasing pressures from anthropogenic activities within marine ecosystems. Area-based Management Tools (ABMT) are key for their conservation and protection, yet their effectiveness is often hindered by lack of resources, technical capacity and political support. Yet, ABMTs are grounded in local, national, regional, and international agreements and policy frameworks including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). To support marine managers, the “Marine Mammals Management Toolkit” was developed and is composed of three core components, including the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), founded on the Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) framework, and is a multiple-choice tool that enables managers to evaluate the effectiveness of management plans regarding marine mammals through the production of a Management Effectiveness Score (MES). The SAT has been utilised across 24 MPAs in 18 countries. Two case studies are provided on its application. The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) evaluated their existing management plan, and scored an MES value of 7.8 with the Bermuda Marine Mammal Sanctuary (BMMS) scoring 4.7. The results of the SAT enabled the Bermudian Government to make informed decisions in developing a Marine Spatial Plan for the BMMS, and enables SBNMS to set a baseline to track effectiveness over the life-time of SBNMS and respective management plans; guiding local and national policy, as well as enabling Bermuda and the United States of America to contribute to their international commitments.

Two new species of the sponge associated axiid shrimp genus Eiconaxius Bate, 1888 (Decapoda: Axiidea) from seamounts in the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, Japan

Two new species of the axiid shrimp genus Eiconaxius Bate, 1888, are described from seamounts in the Nishi-Shichito Ridge, northwestern Pacific off Japan, during recent cruises of R/V Kaimei of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, exploring the marine protected area (MPA). Eiconaxius latirostrum sp. nov. is described on the basis of three specimens from Shoho Seamount at depths of 402–456 m; and E. kaimei sp. nov. is described on the basis of a single ovigerous female from An’ei Seamount at a depth of 888 m. The status of the two new taxa was assessed by phylogenetic analyses employing two mitochondrial markers (16S rRNA and COI genes) and morphological comparison. Specimens of the two new species lived in colonies of unidentified farreid sponges. This study contributes to documenting the benthic invertebrate fauna of the Japanese MPA as a baseline data for conservation.

Biodiversity, renewable energy and maritime spatial planning in Europe: should offshore wind farms be located in marine protected areas?

Biodiversity, renewable energy and maritime spatial planning in Europe: should offshore wind farms be located in marine protected areas?

The protection and development of marine resources under the perspective of the sustainable development concept

PurposeIn this study, suggestions on the protection and development of marine resources, sea area use and management, improvement of laws and regulations, monitoring of marine resources and impact assessment of marine environment are put forward.Design/methodology/approachLiterature research method.FindingsA major factor contributing to the decline in fishery resources is excessive fishing. At present, there are many problems to be solved in the exploitation and utilization of marine mineral resources in China. The pollution problem of marine tourism resources is becoming increasingly serious. Overmining of coastal sea resources has led to planning and management failures.Originality/valueThis paper discusses the current situation of marine resource exploitation and protection in China and analyzes the reasons for excessive resource exploitation from three aspects of marine concept, laws and regulations and marine management.

Distribution, environmental risks, and conservation challenges of chemical pollutants in Persian Gulf marine protected areas

This study investigates the occurrence and distribution of chemical pollutants, including total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), anionic surfactants, and total organic carbon (TOC), in the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) waters in the northern Persian Gulf. Water samples were collected from five MPAs during the winter and summer of 2022. The study identified significant seasonal variations, with higher pollutant levels recorded in winter compared to summer. Concentrations of ∑19PCBs (ng/L), anionic surfactants (µg/L), TPHs (mg/L), and TOC (mg/L) ranged from 0.72 to 4.66, 10 to 79, ND to 134.63, and 0.5 to 114.58 in winter, and from 2.49 to 5.05, 11 to 30, ND to 20.26, and 0.15 to 5.27 in summer, respectively. The pollution patterns revealed the Mond protected area as a major pollution hotspot, compromising its ecological health. The results highlight the critical need for targeted pollution control and enhanced conservation measures in the region’s MPAs to protect biodiversity and marine ecosystems.

The integration of the ecosystem approach in the BBNJ agreement—An initial assessment of limits and opportunities

AbstractThis paper carries out an initial assessment of the integration of the ecosystem approach in the recently adopted agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The analysis seeks to assess whether or not such integration is likely to be effective. In this respect, this paper follows up on earlier analyses offered during the negotiating process and aims at offering some initial considerations on, and reactions to, the final text of the BBNJ agreement, in order to map the limits of this integration and the opportunities it may offer, for an effective implementation of the ecosystem approach in the context of the BBNJ agreement, focussing especially on article 7 (on general principles and approaches), on part III (on area‐based management tools, including marine protected areas) and part IV (on environmental impact assessments) with specific focus on strategic environmental assessment.

Influence of Aqueous Phase Salt and Oil Phase Surfactants and Viscosity on the Dynamic Interfacial Tension and Coalescence Timescales.

Liquid-liquid separation is a critically important process in the treatment of emulsions that can occur in our environment, such as oily stormwater, shipboard bilgewater, or off-shore oil spill treatment. Effective filtration systems, including coalescing filters, are essential for mitigating these environmental pollutants. Achieving this requires a comprehensive understanding of liquid-liquid interface dynamics influenced by additives and surfactants. Furthermore, understanding the impact of surfactants on emulsion stability in saline environments is vital for optimizing filtration processes and ensuring the protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems. In this work, these effects are highlighted using measurements performed across a range of droplet size, surfactant concentration, viscosity ratios, and saline presence. Dynamic IFT measurements are conducted using the pendant drop method for water in light mineral oil, with and without salt in the water phase. The effect of salt addition is also highlighted by using microfluidic coalescence experiments, in which it was found that the addition of salt increases the dimensionless drainage time below the critical micelle concentration. The second focus of this work is to study the effect of bulk phase viscosity on the stability. Dynamic IFT measurements are performed at both millimeter and micrometer scales using pendant drop experiments and microfluidic tensiometry, respectively, involving light and heavy mineral oils with varying SPAN80 surfactant concentrations. The surfactant diffusivity and interfacial adsorption and desorption rates are then extracted by fitting a surfactant diffusion and equation of state equations to the dynamic IFT measurements. The results of the IFT decay, surfactant diffusivity, and adsorption rates are compared at two different viscosity ratios. This study also compares the times required for IFT relaxation with the film drainage times in water-in-oil systems. The comparison aids in comprehending the impact of competing timescales during film drainage. The findings presented in this paper offer valuable insights into the design and optimization of liquid-liquid filtration systems, especially when operating under challenging environmental conditions, such as in saline environments. The principles explored here can be applied to improving industrial water treatment and in the design of advanced filtration technologies for chemical and petrochemical industries, particularly those involving flow, contributing to more sustainable and efficient practices in handling emulsified waste streams.

Larval dispersal and physical connectivity of Pheronema carpenteri populations in the Azores

The study of larval dispersal and connectivity between deep-sea populations is essential for the effective conservation and management of deep-sea environments and the design and implementation of Marine Protected Areas. Dense sponge aggregations, known as “sponge grounds”, are a key component of marine benthic ecosystems, by increasing the structural complexity of the sea floor and providing structure and habitat for many other species. These aggregations are characteristic of the Azores deep-sea environment. These sessile organisms rely primarily on larval dispersal for their reproduction. Connectivity between specific Pheronema carpenteri sponge aggregations in the Azores was studied using a 3-D biophysical dispersal model. Different biological trait scenarios were analyzed, considering spawning seasonality and pelagic larval duration. Model results indicate that regional circulation patterns drive larval dispersion, shaping population connectivity of P. carpenteri sponge aggregations in the Azores, particularly among aggregations in the Central Group of Azorean islands. Some areas present high retention rates, receiving larvae from several sponge aggregations while also being important larval source aggregations. In contrast, aggregations from the Eastern Group may be isolated from the others. Larval dispersal and connectivity patterns were analyzed concerning the current configuration of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Azores. The results underscored the importance of maintaining protection efforts in existing MPAs and identified stepping-stone locations and specific sites where additional measures could enhance species connectivity in the Azores.

Multidimensional human wellbeing in periodic octopus closures in Zanzibar

ABSTRACT Our study of periodic octopus closures helps to fill an empirical gap in community-based marine protected area (MPA) research on socially-diverse multidimensional wellbeing impacts. Human wellbeing provides a more meaningful and holistic measure of social impacts than previous economic measures while recognising equity- evidence that ultimately ensures support and enables long-term success in conservation. We trace the flow of benefits, costs and burdens from closures at three sites in Zanzibar and explore how different types of fishers and traders perceive impacts. This is done at a personal, livelihood group and village or community level, as well as in terms of ecosystem effects. Storytelling, photo-elicitation tasks and focused discussions prioritized participants’ emic descriptions and understandings of closures. We iteratively, qualitatively coded data using a three-dimensional (material, relational and subjective) social wellbeing approach. Despite different conditions and histories at the three sites, participants identified similar wellbeing attributes as affected by the closure. Themes included social conflict, non-compliance, income, education, food/nutrition, and communal benefits reflecting recent literature on MPAs and human wellbeing. Perceptions of inequity cross cut all three dimensions and gender was a strong dimension that emphasized procedural and distributional inequity between different types of livelihood groups e.g. small-scale traderwomen and male skindivers. Material wellbeing losses due to poor market environments highlighted how better alignment is needed between periodic closure activities and resulting value chain dynamics. Opening events intensely impacted wellbeing across all dimensions, suggesting that these moments are critical for creating positive perceptions or losing support for closures.

Enhancing marine protection: Antibacterial, anti-corrosion, and wettability properties of smart coatings via magnet assisted jet electrodeposition

Marine biofouling poses significant challenges to marine infrastructure. Current marine antifouling coatings face issues such as long-term stability, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness. This study investigates the preparation of smart coatings using nano-ZrO2/Ni composite materials via magnet assisted jet electrodeposition, varying the concentration of ZrO2 nanoparticles. The coatings’ structure and surface morphology were analyzed, and their antibacterial, anti-corrosion, and wettability properties evaluated. The results showed that the smart coatings were hydrophobic and could generate reactive oxygen species radicals, and the use of magnetic field preparation also resulted in a microscopic raised structures on the surface, with an antibacterial effect that exceeded that of pure nickel coatings. Increasing the concentration of ZrO2 nanoparticles enhanced coating density and significantly improved anti-corrosion properties. The composition distribution of Zr was the most homogeneous when the mass concentration of ZrO2 nanoparticles was 4 g/L. The development of smart coatings presents promising potential for combating marine biofouling, offering enhanced protection and application prospects in marine environments.

Incorporating sense of place into the management of marine protected areas: A case study from New South Wales, Australia

Marine social-ecological systems are experiencing rapid changes across the globe due to a range of threats such as climate change and exploitation (e.g. overfishing). Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one tool to support the sustainable management of marine systems and resources, however, they are often implemented with mixed success, with one of the key critiques being a lack of consideration of social dimensions. To address this, there have been increased calls for greater consideration of a broad range of social factors, alongside environmental factors in the planning and management of MPAs. One phenomenon that stands to greatly inform and influence the success of MPA management is Sense of Place (SoP), that is, an individual or groups' emotional bond with a given place. While the importance and relevance of SoP is beginning to be acknowledged in the environmental academic literature, there are no documented examples of the phenomenon being incorporated into marine policy or management in a meaningful way. This study seeks to explore why this is the case and how it may be addressed. We achieve this through a case study approach, conducting in depth interviews with decision-makers involved in the management of the New South Wales Marine Estate (i.e. MPA managers), exploring i) their understanding of SoP, ii) their experience in incorporating it into policy, iii) the barriers and iv) enablers in doing so. Results show that despite a limited understanding of SoP, most participants do consider it to be important for marine policy and management and many have attempted to include it in their management efforts, although these attempts are largely centred around general consideration of social values and including diverse voices in policy discussion, as opposed to direct inclusion of SoP per se. A broad range of barriers to incorporating SoP into MPA management were also identified with political barriers, the ambiguity of the concept and challenges in having social values ‘win out’ against economic realities being the most common. Enablers were less commonly identified by study participants, and included the use of SoP as a tool or boundary object to develop shared understandings between stakeholders. We conclude by emphasizing the need for further research on how to improve the incorporation of SoP into MPA management, and outline how this may be achieved through the study of bright spots.

Motivations of Ecotourists and Their Relationship with Sociodemographic Aspects, Satisfaction, and Loyalty: Puntilla de Santa Elena Marine Fauna Production Reserve, Ecuador

This study aims to investigate the demand for ecotourism in marine protected areas by (a) identifying motivations specific to marine protected areas, (b) establishing the relationship between social and demographic variables and motivations, and (c) determining the relationship between social and demographic characteristics, satisfaction, and loyalty variables. The study was conducted in Santa Elena Province at the reserve called “Puntilla”, which is a coastal marine and fauna production reserve in Ecuador, a country renowned for its biodiversity. The sample comprised 369 on-site surveys. Factor analysis and stepwise multiple regression methods were used for data analysis. The results revealed associations between social and demographic variables and tourist motivations. Specifically, lower-income tourists were most motivated by “escape and ego-defensive function motivation” and reported higher satisfaction levels. Conversely, tourists who visited the destination less frequently displayed stronger motivations related to nature and showed high satisfaction. Furthermore, visitors who spent less at the destination demonstrated a greater intention to return and recommend the area to others. These findings hold significant implications for protected areas management and contribute to the scientific literature on ecotourism in similar protected areas.