A study led by researchers from the Algarve Marine Science Centre (CCMAR) and the University of Algarve (UAlg), in collaboration with other European institutions, reveals that most marine protected areas in the European Union only marginally regulate most human activities, questioning their effectiveness in preserving biodiversity and marine ecosystems.
The ocean is essential for the planet and humanity. In addition to its fundamental role in regulating the Earth's climate, it is a central factor in many human activities, from the fishing that feeds millions of people to the cultural and leisure activities that enrich our well-being. However, it faces daily threats caused by human action, including intensive fishing, mining, and many other activities that result in habitat destruction. To address these threats, the European Union has set an ambitious but not binding target: by 2030, 30% of waters should be protected, with 10% under strict protection in each region. However, the published study reveals that, currently, most marine protected areas do not provide the necessary protection.
Protection "in name", but not in the law
Only 11.4% of the entire marine area in the European Union was designated as a marine protected area in 2022. By investigating existing regulations, this new study now reveals that despite being legally designated as protected areas, in most of these waters – 86% – highly damaging activities to the environment can be allowed, such as dredging, mining and destructive fishing practices.
According to the study leader, Juliette Aminian-Biquet, a researcher at CCMAR and UAlg, “These results show that we are only at the beginning of protecting our European Union's waters. European marine protected areas are not intended to provide strong protection for marine biodiversity, as they are flexible in terms of what impacts to limit, hence what regulations to implement.”
A detailed look at 4.858 marine protected areas
This study analysed for the first time the legal level of protection offered by 4,858 Marine Protected Areas across the European Union, using an internationally recognised classification system, the Marine Protected Areas Guide (MPA Guide). The system classified marine protected areas based on impacts of allowed activities, ranging from fully protected, where no extraction activities are allowed, to those that offer were considered incompatible with the biodiversity protection, allowing very high-impact activities. The research concluded that, despite the various legislations to create these areas (at a national, international and European level), they fail to protect and preserve marine life effectively.
“This study is a wake-up call,” says Bárbara Horta e Costa, co-author and senior researcher at CCMAR and UAlg. “If marine protected areas are to fulfil their role in preserving biodiversity and if we are to achieve the targets set for 2030, regulations need to be revised and strengthened.”
The future of our seas depends on urgent action
This study represents a crucial step in understanding the legal protection of marine protected areas in the European Union, emphasising the need to equip marine protected areas with appropriate regulations to reduce impacts. In addition to regulations, we need to ensure that rules are enforced and that ecosystem conditions are monitored. It's important that socio-economic actors, currently facing increasing restrictions on their activities, participate in transforming and adapting maritime activities for social and environmental purposes, both inside and outside MPAs.
The study can be consulted online here.
