Finding harmony in Marine Protected Area design guidelines

Abstract

Widespread degradation of marine ecosystems and ecosystem services, coupled with national and global commitments to improve protection of the oceans, has led to a proliferation of efforts to designate new marine protected areas (MPAs) and MPA networks. A range of design features must be considered when designating MPAs, including MPA size and shape, level of protection, and the species and habitats protected, and evidence suggests these design elements can be crucial in determining MPA effectiveness. Over the past several decades, expansive literature has emerged providing recommendations for MPA design, and yet collectively these recommendations can be overwhelming and even contradictory for MPA planners. To address this barrier, we reviewed and synthesized 307 unique MPA design recommendations across 56 peer-reviewed and gray literature publications. We created a new set of 24 condensed design guidelines grouped by conservation objectives: ecological spatial connectivity (e.g., genetic, larval, community); habitat representation; species or population persistence; mitigation of and complementarity to human activities; and permanence and adaptability. We then discuss examples of datasets, models, and tools that can be utilized to implement specific guidelines. Our review and novel synthesis can help decision-makers understand and apply MPA design recommendations to achieve desired conservation objectives.