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An ecological coherence assessment of the Wider Caribbean Region marine protected area network
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Adequacy
Area-based conservation
Caribbean
Connectivity
Ecological coherence
Geospatial analysis
MPA networks
Marine conservation
Marine protected areas
Replicability
Representativity
Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Area-based conservation
Caribbean
Connectivity
Ecological coherence
Geospatial analysis
MPA networks
Marine conservation
Marine protected areas
Replicability
Representativity
Oceanography
Aquatic Science
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27314
Abstract
Marine protected areas (MPA) are area-based management tools that serve as the cornerstone for marine conservation and sustainable use. There has been a recent shift from establishing MPAs on an individual basis to establishing networks of connected MPAs to better reflect the transient dynamics of marine species and to ensure they are acting synergistically to deliver their intended outcomes in a coherent manner. This study employs innovative geospatial analysis to assess the ecological coherence of the MPA network comprising 846 sites within the Wider Caribbean Region, a global hotspot of marine biodiversity. Evaluating four main criteria widely used in policy—representativity, replicability, connectivity, and adequacy—through 14 tests, our findings indicate that the current MPA network is unlikely to have achieved ecological coherence across all criteria. To improve ecological coherence, regional management could focus on expanding coverage of ecologically important areas, encompassing a broader range of biogeographic zones, and protecting the full spectrum of marine habitats in the region. Efforts should also be directed towards establishing larger MPAs and increasing the number of MPAs with no-take zones, while ensuring the protection of indigenous and local communities' rights to sustainable marine resource use.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2024-09-01
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107249