The Marine Conservation Alliance (MCA) supports the recommendations by the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (MPA FAC) that were submitted to the Department of Commerce and Interior this week.
“The committee recommendations call for a regional approach to establishing any national MPA system” said David Benton, Executive Director of the Marine Conservation Alliance. “The committee called for using existing regional authorities to identify MPAs and nominate them to a national system. There was widespread agreement on the committee that a top-down system run out of Washington D.C. just would not work”.
The goal of the MPA FAC, established by Presidential Executive Order, was design a national system of Marine Protected Areas, and to make recommendations to the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior about the system.
Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, are an important tool for managing human activities that affect the marine environment. MPAs can provide valuable habitat for a wide range of species and are subject to many competing uses and impacts.
“An important aspect of the recommendations is the recognition that MPAs should be designated to address specific conservation concerns,” noted Benton. “The committee tried to develop recommendations that promoted the dual goals of protecting important natural and cultural resources, while at the same time allowing for access to the area and use of marine resources within MPAs. I think we struck a good balance in that regard.”
Adopted unanimously, the next stage of the report is in the hands of the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior, who will review the document and decide on next steps.
Highlights of the Federal Advisory Committee’s recommendations include:
- The MPA FAC recommended that any national system must rely on existing authorities, and that creation of new MPAs must be done only as permitted under existing law.
- The MPA FAC report acknowledges that MPAs are being used now, and can be a useful tool in conserving marine species and habitats.
The report states that a national system of MPAs should be based on national criteria, but implemented on a regional basis with heavy involvement of all interested parties. Existing MPAs would be nominated to the system by regional entities after an extensive public process. New MPAs would have to go through detailed public review before becoming part of any national system. This was a recognition that a top-down approach would not work.
- The MPA FAC stressed that MPA designation and management must be science-driven, and should be designed to address specific problems or conservation concerns. The report calls for implementation of MPAs to accommodate the dual needs of protecting important marine species and to allow for appropriate access to, and use of marine resources in MPAs.
The Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee
Established by a Presidential Executive Order and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the Secretary of Interior, the Federal Advisory Committee was charged with developing recommendations for the creation of a national system of Marine Protected Areas. The Committee is composed of 30 members from federal and state agencies, tribes, commercial and recreational fishing groups, fishery management councils, the oil and gas and mineral industries, academics and environmentalists. http://www.mpa.gov/
The Marine Conservation Alliance is a coalition of coastal communities, harvesters, and processors that live and work in Alaska fisheries. The MCA represents approximately 75% of the fishery participants in Alaska shellfish and groundfish. MCA promotes science based conservation measures to ensure sustainable fisheries in Alaska.