Could the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge Serve to Protect Marine Areas? Building on Existing Institutions and Legal Authorities to Create Marine Protected Areas

During 1999 we determined abundance and size frequency of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in various habitats within the ‘Lakes’ and ‘Marquesas’ regions (122 km2 ) of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (KWNWR), USA, using visual surveys. We also assessed the relationship between lobster abundance and habitat characteristics. During July–August 2000, we quantified the impact of a two-day recreational fishing ‘miniseason’ in fished and nonfished areas within the KWNWR. Lobster density was highest in channels, followed by hard bottom and patch reefs. P. argus was rarely observed in sea-grass and never in mangrove prop-roots. Its density was related to density and volume of large sponges in channel habitats. Although channels represent only 0.06% of the study area, they provide abundant refuges and a likely corridor for migrating juveniles. The two-day fishing season reduced density of lobsters >7 cm CL by an average of 80% across several habitats, including three marine protected areas closed to fishing. The observed decline was probably due to fishing, because percent change in density was related to number of recreational boats anchored at a given site. Relatively small marine protected areas (30–150 ha) may therefore be too small to protect the population structure of P. argus adequately within the KWNWR.

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Autonomous Marine Robot Based on AI Recognition for Permanent Surveillance in Marine Protected Areas

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21082664 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 2664

Author(s):

J. Carlos Molina-Molina ◽

Marouane Salhaoui ◽

Antonio Guerrero-González ◽

Mounir Arioua

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Recognition Accuracy ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Marine Species ◽

Base Station ◽

Autonomous Surface Vehicle ◽

Current Scenario ◽

Illegal Activities ◽

Marine Areas

The world’s oceans are one of the most valuable sources of biodiversity and resources on the planet, although there are areas where the marine ecosystem is threatened by human activities. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are distinctive spaces protected by law due to their unique characteristics, such as being the habitat of endangered marine species. Even with this protection, there are still illegal activities such as poaching or anchoring that threaten the survival of different marine species. In this context, we propose an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) model system for the surveillance of marine areas by detecting and recognizing vessels through artificial intelligence (AI)-based image recognition services, in search of those carrying out illegal activities. Cloud and edge AI computing technologies were used for computer vision. These technologies have proven to be accurate and reliable in detecting shapes and objects for which they have been trained. Azure edge and cloud vision services offer the best option in terms of accuracy for this task. Due to the lack of 4G and 5G coverage in offshore marine environments, it is necessary to use radio links with a coastal base station to ensure communications, which may result in a high response time due to the high latency involved. The analysis of on-board images may not be sufficiently accurate; therefore, we proposed a smart algorithm for autonomy optimization by selecting the proper AI technology according to the current scenario (SAAO) capable of selecting the best AI source for the current scenario in real time, according to the required recognition accuracy or low latency. The SAAO optimizes the execution, efficiency, risk reduction, and results of each stage of the surveillance mission, taking appropriate decisions by selecting either cloud or edge vision models without human intervention.

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Mediterranean marine protected areas: some prominent traits and promising trends

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s037689290000014x ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 104-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

JEAN-GEORGES HARMELIN

Keyword(s):

Social Interactions ◽

Protected Areas ◽

Human Activity ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Active Management ◽

Multiple Use ◽

Marine Areas ◽

Political Compromises

Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs) are very diverse in their intrinsic, jurisdictional, management and enforcement features (e.g. Ramos Esplá & McNeill 1994; Batisse & Jeudy de Grissac 1995). They offer a wide array of situations, ranging from relatively large multiple-use marine areas (sensu Agardy 1997), with active management and strong social interactions, to small sanctuaries that are theoretically totally closed to any human activity. This variety may illustrate a good adaptation to local needs, but often results from economic and political compromises which put the ecological considerations in the background.

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Securing Minimum Protection Standards for Canada’s Marine Protected Areas

10.31230/osf.io/w6qsn ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Maryann Watson

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Marine Biodiversity ◽

Industrial Activities ◽

Degree Of Protection ◽

Management Objectives ◽

Marine Protection ◽

The Government ◽

Government Of Canada ◽

Marine Areas

In 2015, the Government of Canada committed to protecting 5% of marine and coastal areas by 2017, and 10% by 2020. While admirable progress towards this target has been made, less attention has been given to improving the quality of protection afforded to marine areas. Extensive scientific study supports that several factors are critical to the success of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for marine biodiversity conservation and management objectives, including no-take areas and prohibitions on extractive and industrial activities. However, the majority of Canada’s MPAs allow extractive uses within their boundaries. As Canada works toward international and national commitments to marine protection targets, it is critical to consider the degree of protection afforded by the legal designations used to create these areas. This paper reviews the current inconsistent standards of protection across marine protected areas (MPAs) designated under the Oceans Act, Canada’s flagship legislation for marine protection. Recommended amendments to the law include standards of protection that would exclude all extractive industrial activities from MPAs in order to better guide the designation and decision-making processes for marine protection.

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Marine Protected Areas in Fiji: a critical assessment of ‘Community Fisheries Management and Development Plans’ as a mechanism for formalising customary MPAs, in particular LMMAs

Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law ◽

10.4337/apjel.2018.02.01 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 81-100

Author(s):

Emily Long

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Fisheries Management ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Customary Law ◽

Marine Management ◽

Management Measures ◽

Management And Development ◽

Development Plans ◽

Community Fisheries ◽

Marine Areas

Fiji's National Government has committed to using Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect its marine environment. As Fiji is in the process of reforming its marine law, now is an opportune time to develop statutory mechanisms for establishing and regulating MPAs. This article considers the regulation of MPAs in Fiji's coastal waters—where the intersection of statutory and customary law poses particular challenges. ‘Customary MPAs’ already exist in Fiji's coastal environments, taking the form of tabu areas and ‘Locally Managed Marine Areas’ (LMMAs). Both of these are important mechanisms that any new statutory framework should incorporate and strengthen. In 2010, the draft Inshore Fisheries Decree (draft Inshore Decree) was prepared. Although the draft Inshore Decree appears to have stalled, it may yet be progressed to a final bill. Alternatively, some of the measures in it may be incorporated into another law. This article assesses one mechanism in the draft Inshore Decree that could be used to formalize customary MPAs—Community Fisheries Management and Development Plans (CFMDPs). It finds that CFMDPs demonstrate a number of strengths, in particular by supporting legal recognition of existing marine management measures. However, there are also weaknesses. Nevertheless, with refinement CFMDPs may be a useful tool for regulating Fiji's coastal MPAs.

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Challenges facing a network of representative marine protected areas in the Mediterranean: prioritizing the protection of underrepresented habitats

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsn164 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 22-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Ameer Abdulla ◽

Marina Gomei ◽

David Hyrenbach ◽

Giuseppe Notarbartolo-di-Sciara ◽

Tundi Agardy

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Wealth Distribution ◽

Ecological Data ◽

Deep Waters ◽

Ecosystem Level ◽

Strong Motivation ◽

Northern Shore ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Marine Areas

Abstract Abdulla, A., Gomei, M., Hyrenbach, D., Notarbartolo-di-Sciara, G., and Agardy, T. 2009. Challenges facing a network of representative marine protected areas in the Mediterranean: prioritizing the protection of underrepresented habitats. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 22–28. The high endemism of the Mediterranean Sea provides strong motivation to develop a comprehensive plan for the conservation of its biodiversity and the management of its marine resources. Increasingly, this ecosystem-level approach calls for a comprehensive network of marine protected areas (MPAs) representative of the richness and diversity of this shared basin. Today, Mediterranean MPAs do not represent the diverse geography and habitats in the region. Despite a recent declaration on trawling restrictions in deep waters (>1000 m), there are no true deep-sea Mediterranean MPAs. All but one (98.9%) of the 94 marine areas currently under some type of protection or management are coastal. Moreover, 69 (73.4%) are located along the basin's northern shore, highlighting the lack of MPAs in the south and east coasts. Yet, these underrepresented regions and habitats are ecologically distinctive by virtue of their particular oceanographic and biogeographic conditions. We identify several obstacles to Mediterranean MPA implementation and discuss how they can be overcome through strategic MPA network planning, contending that regional disparities in governance, institutional structures, wealth distribution, social capital, and availability of ecological data are responsible for discrepancies in the establishment and effectiveness of MPAs in this region.

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Integration of Conservation Measures Concerning Natura 2000 Sites into Marine Protected Areas Regulations: A Study Related to Sardinia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10103460 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 3460 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Corrado Zoppi

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Spatial Planning ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Habitats Directive ◽

Conservation Measures ◽

Planning Approach ◽

Birds Directive ◽

Natura 2000 Site ◽

Marine Areas

This study defines and discusses a spatial planning approach, which can be integrated into conservation measures, regarding the sites of the Natura 2000 Network—established under the provisions of Directive No. 92/43/EEC (the “Habitats” Directive), and Directive No. 2009/147/EC (the “Birds” Directive)—into the regulations of marine protected areas. The protected marine area of the Island of Tavolara and Cape Coda Cavallo, located in North-Eastern Sardinia (which is overlapped by a Natura 2000 Site) is the spatial context for the implementation of the proposed methodology. The comprehensive outcome of this study, that is, the implementation of the proposed spatial planning approach into regulations regarding the previously mentioned protected marine areas, is particularly relevant for the scientific and technical debate on spatial planning. This debate is related to protection of nature and natural resources, since the issue of integration of the conservation measures related to Natura 200 Network, into regulations of protected areas, is an open question, which needs further consideration and insights.

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Area-Based Management Tools, Including Marine Protected Areas

Proceedings of the ASIL Annual Meeting ◽

10.1017/amp.2017.77 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 247-251

Author(s):

Penelope Nevill

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Marine Protected Areas ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Global Ocean ◽

Convention On Biological Diversity ◽

Management Tools ◽

Marine Areas ◽

Conservation And Management ◽

Population Resilience

Area based management tools (ABMTs) such as marine protected areas (MPAs) are recognized by scientists and the international community as essential to promote the conservation and management of oceans and fisheries. They have been shown to enhance population resilience to climate-driven disturbance. In 2005 the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 adopted a target MPA coverage of 10 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2012. In 2010 it extended the target deadline to 2020. By then the global MPA coverage was just over 1 percent. Recent statistics are more encouraging, if only slightly: a UNEP report released in November 2014 found that 3.4 percent of the global ocean is now protected. In any event 10 percent is not enough. A recent review of the scientific literature suggests that the figure needs to be 30 percent.

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Cactus Carvings and Desert Defecations: Embodying Representations of Border Crossings in Protected Areas on the Mexico—US Border

Environment and Planning D Society and Space ◽

10.1068/d75j ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 727-744 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Juanita Sundberg ◽

Bonnie Kaserman

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Protected Areas ◽

National Park ◽

Undocumented Immigrants ◽

The United States ◽

Border Crossings ◽

National Wildlife Refuge ◽

Wildlife Refuge ◽

Media Institutions

Recent strategies to enforce the United States boundary with Mexico have shifted undocumented immigrants into remote lands federally designated as protected areas (as in national park or national wildlife refuge). Government and media institutions represent such entries as a threat to nature. In this paper we argue that representations and interpretations of threats to nature in border-protected areas are laden with identity attachments. In repeatedly defining that which is threatened as ‘American’, such discourses work to draw boundaries around the nation, thereby narrating inclusion and exclusion.

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