Publisher : North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC)
Place of publication :
Publication year : 2012
Thematic : Marine Resources
Language : English
Note
Marine Protected Area (MPA)
“Any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical
and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed
environment.†- IUCN
Benefits of an MPA
Conservation: Increased biodiversity, habitat preservation, protection of species and ecosystems
Economic benefits: Stabilization of fish population, sustainable catch level, increased opportunities for job creation
and tourism
MPAs in North-East Asia
China: 33 Marine Nature Reserves and 21 Marine Special Protected Areas (2011), administered by the Ministry of
Environmental Protection, the State Oceanic Administration, the State Forestry Administration, and the Bureau of
Fisheries
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK): DPRK does not have protected areas under the specifications of
MPA. However, 3 out of 81 natural parks and 10 out of 74 reserves have similar characters to those of MPAs; 26
Marine Resources Reserves.
Japan: 91 Marine Park Zones in National Parks and Quasi-National Parks, 1 Marine Nature Conservation Area,
administered by Ministry of Environment
Republic of Korea (ROK): 12 Wetland Reserves and 4 Marine Ecological Reserves, administered by the Ministry of
Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs
Russian Federation: 35 Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Ecology
Challenges in Managing MPAs in North-East Asia
New concept: Protected areas have been mostly in the terrestrial context; most MPAs have been designated within the
last decade.
Different terminologies: Characteristics, purposes and regulations regarding MPAs vary by country - marine nature
reserves (China), national parks (Japan), wildlife reserves (Russian Federation), wetland reserves and ecosystem
reserves (Republic of Korea), and habitat reserves (DPRK).
Inconsistency in MPA identification: Statistics about the number of MPAs in the region vary among different
countries, international organizations, and research organizations.
Different institutional settings of management: Administering bodies of MPAs include different ministries and entities
that operate at various levels of local and national governments.
Deficiencies in national-level MPA networks: Attempts to create national-level MPA networks are hindered by the
borderless nature of the marine environment.
Limited international cooperation: Despite the international monitoring efforts, North-East Asia lacks a
comprehensive approach addressing the entire region.
MPA Networks
“A collection of individual marine protected areas operating cooperatively and synergistically, at various spatial scales,
and with a range of protection levels, in order to fulfill ecological aims more effectively and comprehensively than
individual sites could alone. The network will also display social and economic benefits, though the latter may only
become fully developed over long time frames as ecosystems recover.†- IUCN
Existing programs: Regional Seas Programme UNEP, Large Marine Ecosystems, and WWF Marine Ecoregions
1.2. Executive Summary
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There is no universal definition of marine protected areas (MPA). A number of international organizations have stated their
interpretation of the terminology. Three of them are described below.
Common definition of MPA
The most widely accepted terminology was phrased by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN)
describing MPAs as “any area of intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna,
historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed
environment.†The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) further specifies an MPA as a “clearly defined
geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term
conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.†Emphasis is placed on the effectiveness of
protection, meaning that the area is protected by an Act of the Parliament in the case of a public land, or by a covenant or
conservation agreement in the case of a privately-owned or indigenous land.
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) views MPA as a “a generic term to cover all marine sites that meet the
IUCN protected area definition, regardless of purpose, design, management approach, or gazetted name including marine
reserve, sanctuary, and marine park.â€
Lastly, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines MPA as “a geographically defined area, which is designated
or regulated and managed to achieve specific conservation objectives.†For CBD, an MPA’s specific conservation objectives
are considered especially important. In other words, a site that is set
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Keywords : coral-reefs
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
