by John Davis | Sep 15, 2001
In global discussions on the practice of MPAs, the focus is usually on how to manage marine natural resources most effectively — namely fish stocks and habitats. But several MPAs around the world exist for the protection of cultural, rather than natural, resources. These MPAs, often designated around historic shipwrecks, present some unique challenges for their managers.
This month, MPA News examines these challenges and, in a feature immediately following this article, assesses what a pending United Nations agreement on protecting "underwater cultural heritage" could spell for cultural MPAs.
by John Davis | Sep 15, 2001
At present, there is no international instrument to provide significant legal protection to underwater cultural heritage — shipwrecks, sunken cities, underwater cave paintings, and so forth. Although some nations possess laws to provide protection in their own...
by John Davis | Sep 15, 2001
A new atlas prepared by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-WCMC) provides what it describes as the first detailed accounting of the state of coral reefs around the world. The glossy, 424-page World Atlas of Coral...
by John Davis | Sep 15, 2001
Scientists and managers from more than 20 countries gathered in July to share information on the role of science in MPA management. In a workshop held prior to the Coastal Zone ’01 conference in Cleveland, Ohio (US), attendees discussed ways to improve...
by John Davis | Sep 15, 2001
The past two decades have experienced a surge in the number of marine protected areas designated around the world. Some are small, some larger; some are no-take, some multiple-use. The global collection of MPAs — consisting of thousands of sites worldwide...
