MPAs are a simple way of managing resource use in the marine environment. Many of the problems that we face today stem from the open access nature of the sea and the common resources found there. There is little incentive for a fisherman to think about the future or the common good-‘If I don’t catch this fish, then someone else will’

Many layers of legislation and technical measures have made the management of the seas complex and have not succeeded in maintaining the sustainability of resources.

The most important point about MPAs is that they provide protection for an entire ecosystem from the sea floor to the surface. Natural biological processes can occur without

disturbance, leading to increased diversity and productivity.

The whole range of species from seagrasses to worms and starfish will be able to grow to full size and reproduce, slow-growing sponges and soft corals will re-establish themselves and fish and shellfish will be able to find refuge and breed in protected habitats where the food chain is undisturbed.

It is also important to remember that MPAs are not a magic solution for solving the combination of pressures building up on coastal sites, they need to be part of a combination of pressures that together reduce pressure and promote the recovery and protection of biodiversity.