Journal of Marine Biology

The term “marine protected area” (MPA) or “marine protected areas” has featured prominently in discussions of fisheries management and biodiversity conservation since the early 1990s. The concept and its application remain evolving, and recent developments particularly in light of the rapidly growing recognition of climate-change threats and the associated emphasis on ecosystem resilience have brought MPAs to the forefront of debates on global marine conservation and management strategies. However, what exactly are MPAs, and why do we establish MPAs or networks of MPAs? This article seeks to address these fundamental questions, with particular attention to a fisheries perspective. Although the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries does not explicitly refer to MPAs, it does endorse their use through recommendations for management measures, including closed areas, closed seasons, and reserved zones, aimed at minimizing waste, discards, bycatch, lost or abandoned fishing gear, illegal catches, impacts on target species (fish and non-fish), and adverse effects on dependent species, especially threatened species. The FAO Technical Guidelines for an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries likewise acknowledge that MPAs can contribute to achieving sustainable fisheries.