State of the Nation's De Facto Marine Protected Areas
De facto Marine Protected Areas (DFMPAs) are areas of the ocean where access and/or use are restricted for reasons other than conservation. Familiar examples include: military installations, anchoring sites, navigational channels, and oil and gas transfer areas. Like the more traditional, conservation-based Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), DFMPAs can provide conservation benefits by limiting activities that may damage marine habitats, or reducing access to ecologically-sensitive areas.
The MPA Center’s newly released report “State of the Nation’s De Facto Marine Protected Areas,” presents results from the first ever synthesis of information on the location, purpose, and restrictions for all federal DFMPAs in the U.S.
Significant findings include:
- More than 1,200 DFMPAs are located in and cover 3% of U.S. waters
- The majority (94%) do not restrict human uses
- DFMPAs range in size from less than one acre to more than 40,000 km2
For more findings, and to view the complete report, click here.
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