Marine Protected Areas : understanding how levels of protection mediate the flow of marine ecosystem services

© Sarah Miles

The seas and oceans are increasingly subjected to multiple human pressures which results in significant degradation to marine ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, decreased fish stocks, as well as pollution.

Marine Protected Areas are an effective management tool to stop the global decline of marine biodiversity and fish stocks. The aim of these MPAs is to conserve habitats and species by managing human activities.

To this end, the following phases have been identified:

- Examination of protection levels according to the various names given to Marine Protected Areas in the United Kingdom

- Assessment of the way in which the various levels of protection govern flows of ecosystem services

- Analysis of the relationships and interdependence of ecosystem services

- Determination of the benefits generated by Marine Protected Areas.

- Study of the supply of ecosystem services at the Marine Protected Area network level.