Accurate, standardized data on marine managed areas is critical to assess the expected impact of existing MPAs and inform the creation of new areas and management plans. The ProtectedSeas marine managed area project collects global MPA data, supplements it with detailed information for each MPA, and distributes the data for free via an interactive public map and GIS file downloads. Our database provides detailed, easily digestible, and up-to-date information on the actual activity restrictions that apply within each MPA, with details such as rule exceptions, MPA purpose, and links to additional resources, including managing authority websites and official regulations.
To generate the data, our team scours local and national laws to find all documented MPAs and marine managed areas, verifies that the spatial boundaries are current and correct, contacts authorities to verify these data, and provides a monthly data release with change notes. We have implemented a coding system to indicate the level of restriction for over 25 specific categories, including extraction, entry, speed, anchoring, certain types of fishing gear, commercial, and recreational fishing. This coding combined with verified boundaries supports complex analysis of MPA protections and protection comparisons between regions.
We further advance our goal of accessibility to in-depth MPA information by establishing partnerships with governmental agencies, NGOs, and navigational charting companies. As of February 2018, our map includes the United States, the High Seas, the Caribbean, the Western Pacific, Chile, and Mexico. We are committed to completing a global MPA database and are adding new regions monthly.
Topics: Communicating marine conservation , Topics: Marine policy , Topics: Other
