Marine Protected Areas. Tools for Sustaining Ocean Ecosystems

HOUDE, E.; COLEMAN, F.; DAYTON, P.; FLUHARTY, D.L.; KELLEHER, K.; PALUMBI, S.R.; PARMA, A.M.; PIMM, S.; ROBERTS, C.; SMITH, S.; SOMERO, G.; STOFFLE, R.; WILEN, J.

The National Academies Press

Lugar: Washington DC; Año: 2001 p. 288

978-0-309-07286-1

Although the ocean-and the resources within-seem limitless, there is clear evidence that human impacts such as overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution disrupt marine ecosystems and threaten the long-term productivity of the seas. Declining yields in many fisheries and decay of treasured marine habitats, such as coral reefs, has heightened interest in establishing a comprehensive system of marine protected areas (MPAs)-areas designated for special protection to enhance the management of marine resources. Therefore, there is an urgent need to evaluate how MPAs can be employed in the United States and internationally as tools to support specific conservation needs of marine and coastal waters.