List of marine protected areas

A marine protected area (MPA) is a protected area that includes primarily marine environment and biodiversity.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines a protected area as: "A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values." This definition is intended to make it more difficult to claim MPA status for regions where exploitation of marine resources occurs. If there is no defined long-term goal for conservation and ecological recovery and extraction of marine resources occurs, a region is not considered a marine protected area.

As of June 2019 there are 14,830 marine protected areas with a total area of representing 7.59% of the ocean.

Africa

Kenya

, 1979, , 1986, , 1968

Madagascar

, 2015,

Mozambique , 1971,

South Africa

The listed MPAs were individually proclaimed. Some were later consolidated with adjacent MPAs and may not still be generally referred to by the original name. , (2019), , (2019), , (2019), , (2019), , (2004), , (2019), integrated with Aliwal Shoal MPA , (2019), , (2019), , (2000), , (2004), , (2019), , (2019), Castle Rock Marine Protected Area, previously known as the Millers Point Marine Reserve, now part of Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (2000) , (2019), , (2000), , (2000), , (2000), , (2000), , (2000), (KwaZulu-Natal) , (2019), , (2000), , (2000), , (2000), , (2000), , (Western Cape) , (2019), , (2019), , (2019), , (2004), , (2019), , (2013), , (2019), , (2019), , (2000), , (2000), , (2000), , (2019), , (2019), , (2008), , (2004), , (2000), , (2000), , (2019), , (2001, seasonal),

Tanzania

, 1975, , 1997, , 2010,

Antarctica Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area,

Asia

Cambodia , 2018, . IUCN Category V.

China

India

, 1986, , 1983, , 1982,

Indonesia

, 1991, , , 1991, . , 2002,

Malaysia

, 2007, . IUCN Category II.

, 2001, . IUCN Category II. , 2016. IUCN Category II. , 1974. IUCN Category II. Maldives

Thailand , 1981, . IUCN Category II. , 1981, . IUCN Category II. , 1983, , IUCN Category II. , 1981, . IUCN Category II. , 1966, . IUCN Category II. , 1983, . IUCN Category II. , 1980, . IUCN Category II. , 1982, . IUCN Category II. , 1990, . IUCN Category II. , 1984, . IUCN Category II. , 1982, . IUCN Category II. , 1981, . IUCN Category II. , 1976, . IUCN Category II.

Europe

Italy

Finland Metsäkuohu, (2018), Tervapesä, (2018),

Sweden Småbodarna, (2018), Långstrandberget, (2018), Björkbergsbacken, (2018), Höksberget, (2018),

United Kingdom

Port Erin Bay MNR, Isle of Man, (2018), UK Overseas Territories Ascension Island Marine Protected Area, South Atlantic Pitcairn Islands, South Pacific Ocean St Helena, South Atlantic South Orkneys, British Antarctic Territory South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, Southern Atlantic Tristan da Cunha, Southern Atlantic

North America

Canada

In Canada, the constitutional division of powers between the federal government and the provinces as it relates to the marine environment is complex. In general, the federal government coordinates the protection of marine areas in cooperation with provincial authorities. The federal marine protected areas network consists of three core programs: Marine Protected Areas protected under the Oceans Act, marine National Wildlife Areas protected under the Canada Wildlife Act, and National Marine Conservation Areas protected under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

Cuba East Los Colorados Archipelago

United States List of U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries List of marine protected areas of California , (2010), , (2002), , (2009), , IUCN Category V

Oceania

Australia

, (2012),

,

, (2018), , IUCN category VI

, (2018), , IUCN category VI , , IUCN category IV

, (2018), , IUCN category VI , (1983), , IUCN category Ia.

(2000) , IUCN category Ia , (2018), , IUCN category VI

, (2018), , IUCN category IV , (2018), , IUCN category VI , (1991), , IUCN category II

, (1987), , IUCN category IV

, (2018), , IUCN category IV , (2007), , UCN category II

, (2018), , IUCN category IV , (2018), , IUCN category IV

, (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category II , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category II , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (1999), , IUCN category IV , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI , (2007), , IUCN category VI

, (2013), , IUCN category VI

, (2012), , IUCN category VI

, (2012), , IUCN category II

, (2013), , IUCN category VI , (2012), , IUCN category VI

, (2012), , IUCN category VI , (2012), , IUCN category VI

Cook Islands , (2017), , IUCN Category VI.

New Zealand , 1981, , IUCN Category Ia. , 1975, , IUCN Category Ia. , 2014, , IUCN Category Ia. , 2014, , IUCN Category Ia. , 2011, , IUCN Category Ia. , 1992, , IUCN Category Ia.

Palau

, 2015,

South America

Brazil

Abrolhos Marine National Park Ilhas dos Currais Marine National Park Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park Areia Vermelha Marine State Park Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park

Chile Islas Diego Ramírez y Paso Drake, (2019), Humedales Costeros de la Bahía Tongoy, (2018),

Ecuador , 1998,

Grenada Grande Anse, (2018),

Areas beyond national jurisdiction

, 2012, , 2010,

To be integrated

Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres australes françaises, (2017) , (2006), Parc Naturel de la Mer de Corail, (2014), Pacific Remote Islands, (2009) South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area, (2012), Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, (2016),

See also

List of largest protected areas

References