Marine Biodiversity Needs More Than Protection

There are currently two very different views on the effectiveness of zones where fishing is either banned outright or tightly restricted. Many conservationists see the establishment of these marine protected areas (MPAs) as the only way to protect biodiversity. Others argue that the protection of biodiversity at sea can include recreational and industrial fishing and other uses of ocean resources. Closing waters to some kinds of fishing gear and restricting the catch of named species can offer much more protection than cordoning off even 30% of an area. MPAs may simply shift fishing pressure elsewhere.