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), marine litter (MPA News 17:3), and land-based runoff and water quality (MPA News 7:4). In this issue, we spotlight our past coverage of how MPA practitioners have worked to address the impact of underwater noise on protected ecosystems, including from ships and oil/gas exploration:
- “Seismic Surveys and MPAs: How Should Managers Address the Issue of Underwater Noise?”, MPA News 11:3
- “Letters to the Editor: Seismic Surveys and MPAs”, MPA News 11:4
- “In Colombian MPA, Management Files Suit to Stop Oil Exploration Inside Boundary”, MPA News 12:5
- “News & Notes: No Oil Exploration in Seaflower”, MPA News 13:3