“The Marine Protected Area (MPA) system is proposed as
the most cost-effective way in terms of
restoring marine biodiversity and adapting to climate change."
Definition
Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries
Areas designated and managed by the State or local governments for specific public waters
because they are worth preserving marine ecosystems, marine landscapes, etc
IUCN
Areas reserved by legislation to protect all or part of the closed area, such as the intertidal zone or tidal zone and its upper waters and related plants and animals, historical and cultural.
It is classified into six categories according to the level of protection.
Area I (absolutely protected area)
: protected areas for academic research and wildlife conservation
Area II (National Park District)
: Areas managed for ecological conservation and recreation
Area III (Natural Monument Protection Area)
: Protected areas managed to preserve certain natural characteristics
Area IV (Habitat and Species Management Area)
: Areas preserved through active management of ecosystem components
Area V (Landscape Protection Area)
: Protected areas for conservation and recreation of land and marine landscapes
Area Ⅵ (Resource Protection Zone)
: Areas managed for sustainable use of resources
Basis for designation of MPA in Korea
Marine Ecosystem Conservation and Management Act Article 25
-
Marine ecosystem protection area
: Areas necessary for the protection of marine protected organisms -
Marine life protection area
: Areas that are difficult to restore when marine ecosystems are damaged as areas with
particularly excellent or rich marine biodiversity or vulnerable ecosystems -
Marine landscape protection area
: An area with excellent marine landscape value in harmony with marine ecosystems
such as topography, geology, and biological features in the sea or sea
Coastal wetland protection area
in Article 8 of the Wetland Conservation Act
-
Coastal Wetland Protection Area
: An area designated and managed by the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Oceans
and Fisheries, or the Governor of the City and Islands as a wetland protection area for
efficient preservation and management of wetlands
- an area where natural conditions remain primitive or are rich in biodiversity
- an area where rare or endangered wild animals and plants live or appear
- an area of unusual landscape, topographical or geological value
Requirements for Designation of MPA in Korea
Marine Ecosystem Conservation and Management Act Article 25 Paragraph 1
-
Marine natural ecology is maintained primitive and marine biodiversity is abundant,
so it has conservation and academic research value -
Areas requiring academic research or conservation due to the unique topographical geological ecology of the ocean
-
Sea areas with high basic productivity of the ocean or
recognized as conservation value as habitats and spawns of marine life subject to protection -
Areas that can represent various marine ecosystems or correspond to samples
-
Seaside and marine landscapes such as coral reefs and seaweed are beautiful, so they need to be specially preserved
-
Other waters specially necessary for the effective preservation and management of the marine ecosystem,
as prescribed by Presidential Decree
Benefits
Coastal protection
MPA protects habitats that act as buffers against the effects of climate change and provide some protection against natural disasters.
Species survival and reproduction
MPA can protect important habitats, including migratory routes, refuges from predators, hatcheries and nurseries. In other words, it helps the survival and reproduction of species, including many high-quality fisheries resources.
Carbon storage
While coastal ecosystems play an important role in responding to climate change through carbon sequestration, conversely, degradation of such ecosystems can contribute to carbon emissions (Crooks et al., 2011).
Economic Benefits
MPA sustains coastal tourism and leisure, providing economic benefits through increased jobs and commerce. MPA are also an important means of sustaining fisheries-related livelihoods by increasing fish abundance, size, density and biomass.
National targets relating to MPA
United States
In the United States, the National System of MPA was established in accordance with the Presidential Decree 13158 (Executive Order 13158-Marine Protected Areas, May 26, 2000), which is in charge of designation and management of marine protected areas.
In order to manage MPA, the United States includes various stakeholders, including government officials, environmental groups, fishermen, and local residents, to prevent and coordinate problems related to the designation and management of marine protection zones.
Australia
Since the designation of the Royal National Park in Sydney, one of the world's first MPAs, to the ocean in 1897, various laws and regulations have been implemented for the management of marine reserves.
In particular, 58 marine parks in six waters of the Great Barrier Ref Marine Park are designated and managed by the National Park Management Bureau under the Ministry of Environment and are operating a MPA advisory committee (science division and citizen division). The Australian Park Service is implementing seven programs (Seven Programs to Manage Marine Parks) for marine park management.
Europe
In Europe, managing MPA in the Wadden Sea National Park, which is adjacent to Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, is an exemplary case. The Waden Sea National Park established and operates the Waden Sea Joint Management Office in 1987 to manage the area of 13,500㎢ of the North Sea tidal flat as a MPA, and evaluates the achievement of ecological goals through joint monitoring and evaluation programs.
Cases of MPA
Monterey Bay, California, United States
Monterey Bay, located in California, is famous for its overflowing wildlife, but excessive fishing and hunting have put several animals at risk of extinction. In response, the U.S. government designated it as a National Marine Reserve in 1992, and the sea and wildlife have recovered at an alarming rate. As a result, Monterey Bay became famous as a world-class whale tourist attraction.
Papahanomokuakia Marine National Monument, Hawaii, United States
Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the giant marine reserve covers 1.5 million square kilometers. It was first designated as a marine reserve under former U.S. President George Bush in 2006 and greatly expanded under former President Barack Obama. More than 7,000 species of marine life live here, 25% of which are found only in the Hawaiian Islands. The Midway Atoll, famous for its World War II battleground, is also in this reserve.
Ramrash Bay, Scotland
Ramrash Bay is only 2.6 square kilometers. It is a little less than Yeouido, but the value of this place is much larger. This is because local communities have been designated through years of continuous campaigns. Ramrash Bay is home to a variety of undersea plants and animals. The animals and plants depend on the special algae, "maerl," which grows in Ramrash Bay. So they did a lot of scientific research, and they convinced politicians. In addition, they informed tourists who visited Aran Island of the need to designate marine reserves and fought against vested interests.
the Ross Sea of Antarctica
The Ross Sea, part of the Antarctic Ocean, is home to creatures such as killer whales, penguins, and seals. It was designated a protected area in 2017 and became a haven for Antarctic wildlife. The Antarctic Ocean is relatively less affected by human activity, so it has a primitive and unique ecosystem. Of course, it was not easy to designate a protected area due to opposition from countries operating here. However, after years of efforts by governments, citizens, greenpeace and other environmental groups around the world, the Ross Sea was finally designated as a marine reserve in 2017.