Marine protected areas driving recovery of ocean life, report finds

London: While coral reef bleaching and other negative marine tipping points are well-known, ocean-based solutions such as marine protected areas (MPAs) are showing promise for reversing decline, according to a new report.

The report found MPAs have proven “instrumental” in the recovery and spread of marine life. It outlined how protected areas can create positive, unstoppable change: “Once rebuilt biomass from protected areas spills into fished waters, fishers support more protection and the network self-expands.”The global High Seas Treaty, which came into effect in January after decades of negotiations, is cited as an example of coordinated action to revive and restore oceans.

Ariana Densham of Greenpeace said the Galapagos Marine Reserve shows how protected areas “can help wildlife bounce back.””We don’t need to imagine what fully protected sanctuaries could achieve,” she said. “If one sanctuary around a single island chain can deliver such hope and abundance, imagine what a whole network of high seas sanctuaries could do.”