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Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gill, DA; Mascia, MB; Ahmadia, GN; Glew, L; Lester, SE; Barnes, M; Craigie, I; Darling, ES; Free, CM; Geldmann, J; Holst, S; Jensen, OP ...
Published in: Nature
March 2017

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being used globally to conserve marine resources. However, whether many MPAs are being effectively and equitably managed, and how MPA management influences substantive outcomes remain unknown. We developed a global database of management and fish population data (433 and 218 MPAs, respectively) to assess: MPA management processes; the effects of MPAs on fish populations; and relationships between management processes and ecological effects. Here we report that many MPAs failed to meet thresholds for effective and equitable management processes, with widespread shortfalls in staff and financial resources. Although 71% of MPAs positively influenced fish populations, these conservation impacts were highly variable. Staff and budget capacity were the strongest predictors of conservation impact: MPAs with adequate staff capacity had ecological effects 2.9 times greater than MPAs with inadequate capacity. Thus, continued global expansion of MPAs without adequate investment in human and financial capacity is likely to lead to sub-optimal conservation outcomes.

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Published In

Nature

DOI

EISSN

1476-4687

ISSN

0028-0836

Publication Date

March 2017

Volume

543

Issue

7647

Start / End Page

665 / 669

Related Subject Headings

  • Workforce
  • Population Dynamics
  • Internationality
  • Goals
  • General Science & Technology
  • Fishes
  • Ecology
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Biomass
  • Aquatic Organisms
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
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Gill, D. A., Mascia, M. B., Ahmadia, G. N., Glew, L., Lester, S. E., Barnes, M., … Fox, H. E. (2017). Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally. Nature, 543(7647), 665–669. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21708
Gill, David A., Michael B. Mascia, Gabby N. Ahmadia, Louise Glew, Sarah E. Lester, Megan Barnes, Ian Craigie, et al. “Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally.Nature 543, no. 7647 (March 2017): 665–69. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21708.
Gill DA, Mascia MB, Ahmadia GN, Glew L, Lester SE, Barnes M, et al. Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally. Nature. 2017 Mar;543(7647):665–9.
Gill, David A., et al. “Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally.Nature, vol. 543, no. 7647, Mar. 2017, pp. 665–69. Epmc, doi:10.1038/nature21708.
Gill DA, Mascia MB, Ahmadia GN, Glew L, Lester SE, Barnes M, Craigie I, Darling ES, Free CM, Geldmann J, Holst S, Jensen OP, White AT, Basurto X, Coad L, Gates RD, Guannel G, Mumby PJ, Thomas H, Whitmee S, Woodley S, Fox HE. Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally. Nature. 2017 Mar;543(7647):665–669.
Journal cover image

Published In

Nature

DOI

EISSN

1476-4687

ISSN

0028-0836

Publication Date

March 2017

Volume

543

Issue

7647

Start / End Page

665 / 669

Related Subject Headings

  • Workforce
  • Population Dynamics
  • Internationality
  • Goals
  • General Science & Technology
  • Fishes
  • Ecology
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Biomass
  • Aquatic Organisms