{"id":2224,"date":"2020-06-11T00:13:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T00:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/?page_id=2224"},"modified":"2025-04-25T11:41:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T18:41:37","slug":"why-fully-highly-protected-areas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/why-fully-highly-protected-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Fully &#038; Highly Protected Areas?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<p>Protected areas conserve entire ecosystems by restricting human activities and are among the most effective approaches to biodiversity conservation. However, not all protected areas are created equal. The level of protection, as determined by the regulations and restricted activities, determines the expected conservation outcomes. For example, a minimally protected area that restricts use of a single fishing gear and allows all others will not achieve the same conservation benefits as a no-take area, which restricts all extractive activities.<\/p>\n<h2>\n\t\tProtecting biodiversity in fully and highly protected areas increases the abundance and diversity of marine life.\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CGM02669-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Reefs of Gardens of the Queen sea grass sea grass\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"1707\" width=\"2560\" title=\"Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\/SeaLegacy\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sealegacy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\/SeaLegacy<\/a>\n\t<p><strong>Fully and highly protected areas are areas of the coastal or marine environment that allow minimal or no extractive or other damaging practices, such as fishing, mining, and oil and gas development. Studies have shown that fully and highly protected areas result in the greatest conservation benefits, while protected areas with less regulations and more human activities afford minimal conservation benefits.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Protecting biodiversity in fully and highly protected areas increases the abundance and diversity of marine life exported to surrounding areas, both securing food resources for millions of people and preventing loss of species. With well-designed and managed fully and highly protected areas, and especially networks of such areas, we can achieve international conservation goals, restore a\u00a0 healthy ocean, and conserve marine biodiversity.<\/p>\n<h2>\n\t\tMarine Conservation Institute supports fully and highly protected areas because they:\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DSC_7696-e1594329020119.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h1>Protect entire ecosystems including habitat and ecosystem function<\/h1>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DSC_6662-e1594325985964.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Protect habitats and ecosystems from destructive fishing practices and other harmful, human activities and allow damaged areas and ecosystems to recover<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Jellyfish-Clinton-Bauder.png\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h1>Protect biodiversity at three levels: ecosystem, species and genetic<\/h1>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Cordel-Bank-NMS_Clinton-Bauder-scaled-e1594326565965.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Serve as benchmarks to compare with unprotected or altered ecosystems to assess human impact and improve management<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DSC_5711-e1594331027744.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Increase resilience to protect against potentially damaging external impacts, such as climate change<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DSC_3974.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Provide areas where fish are able to reproduce, spawn and grow to their adult size<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DSC_7567_304557-e1594331280407.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Increase fish catches (both size and quantity) in surrounding fishing grounds<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading='false' src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/IYORBank_PeopleandtheReef_ErikLukas_04-scaled-e1594330860356.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Help to maintain local cultures, economies, and livelihoods which are intricately linked to the marine environment<\/h2>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h1>Provide refuges for endangered and commercial species<\/h1>\t\t\t\n<h2>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/scientific-support\/\" title=\"Learn more about the scientific support for fully &amp; highly protected MPAs\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\tLearn more about the scientific support for fully &#038; highly protected MPAs <br \/><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/scientific-support\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<h2>\n\t\tTo learn more about how we assess and measure protection levels, check out our MPA Assessments.\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/mpatlas-assessments\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<h2>\n\t\tNow is the time to act.\n\t<\/h2>\n\t<p>Marine Conservation Institute works to improve marine protection by advocating for stronger ocean protections, tracking conservation progress in the <a href=\"http:\/\/mpatlas.org\/\">Marine Protection Atlas<\/a>, and strengthening marine protections through <a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/blueparks\/\">Blue Parks<\/a>. We are working to save the ocean for all of us and future generations.<\/p>\n<p>Each and every one of us can make a difference.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/10-things-you-can-do\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/cgmittermeier_Alaska_001-e1594189746827.jpg\" alt=\"PC: Cristina Mittermeier\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"651\" width=\"1439\" title=\"Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\/Sea Legacy\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/10-things-you-can-do\/\" target=\"_self\">Learn how to take action!<\/a><\/h3><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/10-things-you-can-do\/\"  target=\"_self\">Learn More<\/a>\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/ocean-guardian\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/CGM08315-Edit-Edit-scaled-e1594189845851.jpg\" alt=\"Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"651\" width=\"1439\" title=\"Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\/Sea Legacy\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/ocean-guardian\/\" target=\"_self\">Become an Ocean Guardian.<\/a><\/h3><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/ocean-guardian\/\"  target=\"_self\">Learn More<\/a>\t\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/give\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cristinamittermeier_190420_11240-Edit-scaled-e1594189935928.jpg\" alt=\"&lt;a href=&quot;\/\/new.marine-conservation.org\/about\/\"&quot; target=&quot;\"_blank\"&quot; rel=&quot;noopener noreferrer&quot;&gt;Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\/SeaLegacy&lt;\/a&gt;\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"651\" width=\"1439\" title=\"Photo: Cristina Mittermeier\/SeaLegacy\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/give\/\" target=\"_self\">Donate to support our work for our incredible ocean.<\/a><\/h3><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/give\/\"  target=\"_self\">Learn More<\/a>\t\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protected areas conserve entire ecosystems by restricting human activities and are among the most effective approaches to biodiversity conservation. However, not all protected areas are created equal. The level of protection, as determined by the regulations and restricted activities, determines the expected conservation outcomes. For example, a minimally protected area that restricts use of a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2224","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why Fully &amp; Highly Protected Areas? &#187; Marine Conservation Institute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/why-fully-highly-protected-areas\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Fully &amp; Highly Protected Areas? &#187; Marine Conservation Institute\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Protected areas conserve entire ecosystems by restricting human activities and are among the most effective approaches to biodiversity conservation. 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