{"id":22162,"date":"2023-07-14T13:14:59","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T11:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=22162"},"modified":"2025-01-02T12:55:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-02T11:55:43","slug":"international-examples-of-effective-marine-protected-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/international-examples-of-effective-marine-protected-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"International examples of effective marine protected areas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marine protected areas already exist in the world, and they differ in size, level, and category of protection, as well as permitted, restricted, and completely prohibited activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it\u00a0comes\u00a0to the\u00a0sea, strictly protected areas\u00a0or no-take\u00a0zones\u00a0are\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0effective\u00a0level of\u00a0area\u00a0protection\u00a0because they\u00a0bring\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0benefits for biological diversity, but also for the local community through the\u00a0recovery\u00a0of economically\u00a0important\u00a0species.\u00a0According\u00a0to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, member states\u00a0must\u00a0contribute\u00a0to the\u00a0establishment\u00a0of a\u00a0effective\u00a0<\/strong>protected\u00a0areas\u00a0network on 30% of the\u00a0sea\u00a0surface, of which 10% of the\u00a0sea\u00a0must\u00a0be strictly protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, there are very few areas that are effective in achieving protection goals. 
According to marine protection experts, and following the Criteria and guidance for protected areas designations<\/strong> <\/a>of the EU Commission, examples of effective strictly protected marine areas in Europe are the Columbretes Islands and the Medes Islands in Spain, Calanques in France and Torre Guaceto in Italy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\u00a0preserve\u00a0biodiversity\u00a0and\u00a0restore\u00a0the fish stock, strictly protected areas should be\u00a0established\u00a0in in-shore\u00a0and offshore\u00a0areas, because completely\u00a0different\u00a0habitats and\u00a0species\u00a0are\u00a0represented\u00a0in these\u00a0parts.\u00a0Therefore,\u00a0below\u00a0we\u00a0present\u00a0to you two international examples of effective protected\u00a0areas, the coastal\u00a0area\u00a0of\u00a0Torre\u00a0Guaceto\u00a0and the offshore islands of\u00a0Columbretes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Italy)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The protected area of Torre Guaceto<\/a> is located on the Adriatic coast of Italy, in the region of Puglia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Protection was declared in 1991 on an area of 2227 ha, but until 2001 it existed purely “on paper”. In 2001, protection was implemented in the field and fishing was prohibited to enable the fish stock<\/strong> recovery. <\/strong>There was resistance from fishermen (poaching), fishing tools confiscation, and deprivation of privileges. However, the conflicts calmed down and a great effort was made to bring about the cooperation of the stakeholders on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2005, the area has been participatively managed with the fishermen’s involvement, civil society organizations, and scientific institutions. Co-operative management with local fishermen fishing within the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area is one of the few examples of good practice that demonstrates that it is possible to incorporate traditional fisheries into sustainable resource management.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The habitats included in the protection are mosaic, including sea flowers meadows<\/strong>, sandy beaches, and deep-sea Mediterranean coral formations, and provide a home to numerous species of shellfish, sponges, gorgonians, fish, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"more-puno-zivota-zone-za\u0161tite-za\u0161ti\u0107ena-podru\u010dja\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"life-artina-panel\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"more-puno-zivota-zone-za\u0161tite-za\u0161ti\u0107ena-podru\u010dja\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"more-puno-zivota-zone-za\u0161tite-za\u0161ti\u0107ena-podru\u010dja\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0area\u00a0consists\u00a0of three\u00a0zones\u00a0with\u00a0different\u00a0degrees of\u00a0protection:\u00a0strictly protected areas, general\u00a0area, and partially\u00a0protected\u00a0area.\u00a0Only\u00a0scientific research is\u00a0allowed\u00a0in the strictly protected area.\u00a0The general\u00a0area is\u00a0additionally\u00a0used\u00a0for scientific research, but swimming and special tours are\u00a0also\u00a0allowed, while the partially\u00a0protected\u00a0area, which is\u00a0also\u00a0the largest, is\u00a0also\u00a0used\u00a0for regulated small-scale coastal and sport-recreational fishing and for the\u00a0passage\u00a0of\u00a0ships.\u00a0Anchoring is\u00a0prohibited.\u00a0Area\u00a0guards and\u00a0researchers\u00a0are authorized to\u00a0monitor\u00a0and\u00a0check\u00a0catches\u00a0and fishing gear\u00a0used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientific research shows that the effectiveness of protection and monitoring of the area is very high, and the area also provides significant fisheries benefits. It was found that the catch per unit of effort is about twice as high in the protected area compared to the neighboring waters, so the income is twice as high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islas Columbretes Natural and Marine Reserve (Spain)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Columbretes Islands are a group of small uninhabited islets and reefs of volcanic origin in the Mediterranean Sea, 30 nautical miles from the coast. Administratively they belong to the province of Valencia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The archipelago was declared a wildlife reserve in 1988, and in 1990 the protection was extended to the marine reserve. The area belongs to the Ib protection category according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), which means that it has retained its natural character, that is, there has been no significant human impact<\/strong>. The Columbretes Islands are an area of SPAMI \u2013 Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The marine protected\u00a0area\u00a0is\u00a0divided\u00a0into three\u00a0zones\u00a0with\u00a0somewhat\u00a0different activity regulations:\u00a0strictly protected\u00a0area, marine reserve, and special purpose\u00a0area.\u00a0Free vessel anchoring,\u00a0fishing\u00a0of any\u00a0kind, and\u00a0taking\u00a0of\u00a0animals,\u00a0plants,\u00a0objects, or\u00a0rocks\u00a0are\u00a0prohibited\u00a0in all three\u00a0zones.\u00a0Only\u00a0scientific research is\u00a0allowed\u00a0in the strictly protected\u00a0area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free\u00a0diving\u00a0is\u00a0allowed, while scuba\u00a0diving\u00a0is\u00a0restricted\u00a0to a special purpose\u00a0area, with\u00a0prior\u00a0approval.\u00a0Prerequisites\u00a0for\u00a0diving\u00a0are\u00a0a valid\u00a0diving\u00a0license with at least 25 recorded\u00a0dives, while the\u00a0last\u00a0dive\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0within the\u00a0last\u00a012\u00a0months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the sensitivity of the area, organized visits are allowed. Disembarkation is possible only on one island, where there is also a lighthouse, accompanied by a nature guard, observing certain rules of conduct.<\/strong> There is a maximum daily visit limit and visiting time. Permission to visit the island is given on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance. Sailing through the protected area is permitted, but limited to a maximum speed of three knots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The vessel anchoring is possible only at established anchorages. Restrictions on the use of this area are essential for effective protection. Although fishing is not allowed, fishermen who fish in the surrounding sea profit from the protection. Namely, within the protected area there is an increase in the mass and number of economic species of organisms that then populate the surrounding area (“spillover effect”).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to its isolation, the archipelago is home to numerous endemic species, as well as a breeding ground for rare seabirds. Submerged reefs dominate the surrounding sea. The diversity of depths and habitats, the distance from the coast, and the existence of continuous protection enabled a great diversity of communities with an excellent preservation degree. Some species found here are rare in the coastal zone of the province of Valencia due to overfishing or changes in habitats, like cystoseira algae, lobster, grouper, red coral, large hornbill, bottlenose dolphin, loggerhead turtle, and others.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the strict marine protection, the Columbretes Islands are today an area of well-preserved Mediterranean habitats, which makes this archipelago an interesting place for scientific research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are\u00a0merely\u00a0some of the\u00a0examples\u00a0that\u00a0prove\u00a0to us that the\u00a0strict\u00a0protection of marine areas\u00a0contributes\u00a0to the\u00a0species\u00a0<\/strong>preservation\u00a0and the\u00a0increase\u00a0of their\u00a0mass\u00a0and\u00a0diversity<\/strong>.\u00a0It also\u00a0brings\u00a0benefits\u00a0to local communities.\u00a0Therefore, strictly protected\u00a0areas are simply necessary if we\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0ensure\u00a0the\u00a0well-being\u00a0of\u00a0biodiversity, but also for\u00a0humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u00a0hope\u00a0that in the near future some strictly protected\u00a0areas in Croatia will be an example of\u00a0efficiency\u00a0that\u00a0we\u00a0will be\u00a0proud\u00a0of, and that\u00a0we\u00a0too will have\u00a0a sea\u00a0full\u00a0of\u00a0life.\u00a0And for that,\u00a0we\u00a0need\u00a0the\u00a0support\u00a0of all of you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Get to know two international examples of effective protected\u00a0areas: coastal\u00a0area\u00a0of\u00a0Torre\u00a0Guaceto\u00a0and the offshore islands of\u00a0Columbretes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":22149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1028,1004,1002,1142],"class_list":["post-22162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-marine-protected-areas","tag-no-take-zones","tag-sea-full-of-life","tag-strictly-protected-areas"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22162"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24006,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22162\/revisions\/24006"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}