by West Coast Environmental Law
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are special areas of the ocean that are legally protected from harmful human activities – creating important refuges where fish and other marine life can recover and thrive. These protected areas provide safe havens for aquatic species to recover from the many stresses they face, including pollution, overfishing, habitat loss and climate change. And they often allow for sustainable fishing and recreation.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? So why aren’t more people getting excited and speaking up in support of strong legal safeguards for the sea?
There’s a lot of information floating around about marine protected areas: what they do, and potential pros and cons for ocean life, food security and communities – but many Canadians haven’t heard about the benefits marine protected areas can bring for the ocean and our coastal livelihoods that depend on it.
Photo Markus Thompson, courtesy of West Coast Environmental Law
