Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas

MPAs are established to purportedly protect threatened fish stocks and sensitive habitat within specified boundaries.

The establishment of MPAs is increasingly leading to the creation of restrictive "no-take" Marine Reserves resulting in significant permanent closures for recreational fishing, especially in saltwater. Consequently, recreational anglers are being blocked out of miles of prime fishing areas.

An MPA is not necessarily a no fishing zone, though the two terms are often erroneously used as though they were interchangeable. Marine Reserves, sometimes called "Ocean Wilderness Areas," are highly restrictive MPAs where all extractive activities are excluded. There are also MPAs that allow some recreational fishing, but with certain restrictions. These restrictions may include limitations on gear type or species caught.