The political spotlight that often shines on MPAs has fostered a view among some that MPAs pertain only to addressing the effects of fishing, as that is the role that attracts the most media attention. But that view sells MPAs short. In truth, MPAs can play valuable roles in addressing a variety of non-fishing-related threats facing the oceans.
This year MPA News is helping to shed more light on these roles. So far we’ve shown how MPAs can help address climate change (MPA News 17:2) and marine litter (MPA News 17:3). In this issue, we spotlight past coverage – in MPA News and our affiliated publication MEAM (Marine Ecosystems and Management) – of how MPA practitioners have worked to address land-based runoff of sediments and related water quality issues:
- “Integrated land-and-sea management: Examining three cases where marine practitioners are looking upstream”, MEAM 6:6
- “Case: Management of Monterey Bay affected by changes in agriculture upstream”, MEAM 3:1
- “Managing Water Quality in MPAs: How Practitioners Are Handling the Challenges”, MPA News 3:7