List of marine protected areas
A marine protected area (MPA) is a protected area that includes primarily marine environment and biodiversity.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines a protected area as:
"A clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values."[1][2]
This definition is intended to make it more difficult to claim MPA status for regions where exploitation of marine resources occurs. If there is no defined long-term goal for conservation and ecological recovery and extraction of marine resources occurs, a region is not a marine protected area.[2]
As of June 2019 there are 14,830 marine protected areas with a total area of 27,495,595 km2 (10,616,109 sq mi) representing 7.59% of the ocean.[3]
Africa
Mozambique
- Bazaruto National Park, 1971, 1,600 km2 (620 sq mi)[4]
South Africa
The listed MPAs were individually proclaimed. Some were later consolidated with adjacent MPAs and may not still be generally referred to by the original name.
- Addo Elephant National Park Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi)
- Agulhas Bank Complex Marine Protected Area – An offshore marine conservation area south of Cape Agulhas in South Africa, (2019),[5] 4,300 km2 (1,700 sq mi)
- Agulhas Front Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the Eastern Cape in South Africa's EEZ, (2019),[5] 6,200 km2 (2,400 sq mi)
- Agulhas Muds Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the Western Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 207 km2 (80 sq mi)
- Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area at Aliwal Shoal off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, (2004),[6] 670 km2 (260 sq mi)
- Aliwal Shoal Offshore Marine Protected Area – 2019 extension to the Aliwal Shoal Marine Protected Area, (2019),[5] integrated with Aliwal Shoal MPA
- Amathole Offshore Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 400 km2 (150 sq mi)
- Benguela Muds Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the Western Cape province of South Africa, (2019),[5] 72 km2 (28 sq mi)
- Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Western Cape in South Africa, (2000),[6] 20.14 km2 (7.78 sq mi)
- Bird Island Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Eastern Cape in South Africa now part of the Addo Elephant National Park, (2004),[6]
- Browns Bank Corals Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area on the continental slope of South Africa, (2019),[5] 399 km2 (154 sq mi)
- Cape Canyon Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the Western Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 580 km2 (220 sq mi)
- Castle Rock Marine Protected Area, previously known as the Millers Point Marine Reserve, now part of Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area (2000)[6]
- Childs Bank Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the west coast of South Africa, (2019),[5] 1,335 km2 (515 sq mi)
- De Hoop Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area on the south coast of the Western Cape of South Africa, (2000),[6] 288.9 km2 (111.5 sq mi)
- Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area – A coastal marine conservation area in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, (2000),[6] 199 km2 (77 sq mi)
- Goukamma Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area the Western Cape in South Africa, (2000),[6] 32 km2 (12 sq mi)
- Helderberg Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Western Cape in South Africa, (2000),[6] 24.6 km2 (9.5 sq mi)
- Hluleka Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, (2000),[6] 40.86 km2 (15.78 sq mi)
- iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in northern kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) 443 km2 (171 sq mi)
- iSimangaliso Offshore Marine Protected Area – Large 2019 extension to the iSimangaliso marine protected area, (2019),[5] 10,700 km2 (4,100 sq mi)
- Jutten Island Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area (in region) in South Africa, (2000),[6] 1.11 km2 (0.43 sq mi)
- Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Langebaan lagoon in the Western Cape province of South Africa, (2000),[6] 280 km2 (110 sq mi)
- Malgas Island Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area on the west coast in the Western Cape province in South Africa, (2000),[6] 0.66 km2 (0.25 sq mi)
- Maputaland Marine Protected Area, (2000),[6] 384.54 km2 (148.47 sq mi)
- Marcus Island Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Western Cape in South Africa, (Western Cape)[6] 0.26 km2 (0.10 sq mi)
- Namaqua Fossil Forest Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the northwest cost of the Northern Cape province of South Africa, (2019),[5] 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi)
- Namaqua National Park Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape, in South Africa, (2019),[5] 500 km2 (190 sq mi)
- Orange Shelf Edge Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the Northern Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi)
- Pondoland Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area (in region) in South Africa, (2004),[6] 1,380 km2 (530 sq mi)
- Port Elizabeth Corals Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the Eastern Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 270 km2 (100 sq mi)
- Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the waters of the Prince Edward Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, (2013),[6] 181,229.46 km2 (69,973.09 sq mi)
- Protea Banks Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the coastal waters of southern kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, (2019),[5] 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi)
- Robben Island Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area around and offshore of Robben Island in Table Bay in the Western Cape province in South Africa, (2019),[5] 580 km2 (220 sq mi)
- Robberg Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area around the Robberg peninsula in South Africa, (2000),[6] 42 km2 (16 sq mi)
- Sardinia Bay Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, (2000),[6] 12.91 km2 (4.98 sq mi)
- Sixteen Mile Beach Marine Protected Area, (2000),[6] 106.91 km2 (41.28 sq mi)
- Southeast Atlantic Seamounts Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the South Atlantic in the South African EEZ, (2019),[5] 6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi)
- Southwest Indian Seamounts Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area south of Stilbaai in the Western Cape in South Africa, (2019),[5] 7,500 km2 (2,900 sq mi)
- Stilbaai Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area in the Western Cape in South Africa, (2008),[6] 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi)
- Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area around the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, (2004),[6] 953.25 km2 (368.05 sq mi)
- Trafalgar Marine Protected Area, (2000),[6] .29 km2 (0.11 sq mi)
- Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area on the south coast of South Africa, (2000),[6] 186 km2 (72 sq mi)
- uThukela Banks Marine Protected Area – A marine conservation area off the coast of kwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, (2019),[5] 5,666 km2 (2,188 sq mi)
- Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary – A marine conservation area in the Western Cape province in South Africa, (2001, seasonal),[6] 112.49 km2 (43.43 sq mi)
Antarctica
- Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area, 2,060,058 km2 (795,393 sq mi)[7]
Asia
Thailand
- Ao Phang Nga National Park – Marine protected area in southern Thailand, 1981, 400 km2 (150 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[8]
- Hat Chao Mai National Park – Marine protected area in Trang Province, Thailand, 1981, 230.86 km2 (89.14 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[9]
- Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park – Marine protected area in Krabi Province, Thailand, 1983, 37.9 km2 (14.6 sq mi), IUCN Category II.[10]
- Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park – Marine protected area of Thailand, 1981, 131 km2 (51 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[11]
- Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, 1966, 98.08 km2 (37.87 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[12]
- Laem Son National Park, 1983, 315 km2 (122 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[13]
- Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park – Marine protected area in Surat Thani Province of Thailand, 1980, 102 km2 (39 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[14]
- Mu Ko Chang National Park – National park of Thailand, 1982, 650 km2 (250 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[15]
- Mu Ko Lanta National Park – Marine protected area in the southern part of Krabi Province, Thailand, 1990, 134 km2 (52 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[16]
- Mu Ko Phetra National Park – Marine protected area in the Strait of Malacca off Thailand, 1984, 494.38 km2 (190.88 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[17]
- Similan Islands – Marine protected area in Phang Nga Province, southern Thailand, 1982, 114 km2 (44 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[18]
- Surin Islands – Marine protected archipelago in Andaman Sea, Thailand, 1981, 141.25 km2 (54.54 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[19]
- Tarutao National Park – Marine protected area off the coast of Satun Province, Thailand, 1976, 1,490 km2 (580 sq mi). IUCN Category II.[20]
Australia
- Coral Sea Marine Park – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government, (2012), 995,251 km2 (384,269 sq mi)[7]
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government, 71,200 km2 (27,500 sq mi)
- North Network – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government
- Arafura Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North Marine Parks network
- Arnhem Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North Marine Parks network
- Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park – Australian marine park in the Gulf of Carpentaria, offshore of Queensland, (2018), 23,771 km2 (9,178 sq mi),IUCN category VI
- Joseph Bonaparte Gulf Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North Marine Parks network
- Limmen Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North Marine Parks network
- Oceanic Shoals Marine Park – Australian marine park offshore of the Northern Territory, near Darwin, (2018), 71,743 km2 (27,700 sq mi) ,IUCN category VI
- West Cape York Marine Park – Australian marine park offshore of Queensland, 16,012 km2 (6,182 sq mi), IUCN category IV
- Wessel Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North Marine Parks network
- North-west Network – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government
- Argo-Rowley Terrace Marine Park – Australian marine park north-west of Broome, Western Australia, (2018), 146,003 km2 (56,372 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Ashmore Reef Marine Park – Australian marine park north of Broome, Western Australia, (1983), 146,003 km2 (56,372 sq mi), IUCN category Ia.
- Carnarvon Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North-West Network, Western Australia
- Cartier Island Marine Park (2000) 172 km2 (66 sq mi), IUCN category Ia
- Dampier Marine Park – Australian marine park north-east of Karratha, Western Australia, (2018), 1,252 m2 (13,480 sq ft), IUCN category VI
- Eighty Mile Beach Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North-west Marine Parks network
- Gascoyne Marine Park – Australian marine park west of the Cape Range Peninsula, Western Australia, (2018), 81,766 km2 (31,570 sq mi), IUCN category IV
- Kimberley Marine Park – Australian marine park offshore of Western Australia, near the Kimberley region, (2018), 74,469 km2 (28,753 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Mermaid Reef Marine Park – Australian marine park in the Rowley Shoals north-west of Broome, Western Australia, (1991), 540 km2 (210 sq mi), IUCN category II
- Montebello Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North-west Marine Parks network
- Ningaloo Marine Park (Commonwealth waters) – Australian marine park west of the Ningaloo Coast of Western Australia, (1987), 2,435 km2 (940 sq mi), IUCN category IV
- Roebuck Marine Park – Australian marine park in the North-west Marine Parks network
- Shark Bay Marine Park – Marine protected area in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia
- Temperate East Network – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government
- Central Eastern Marine Park – Australian marine park offshore from the edge of the continental shelf off New South Wales, (2018), 70,054 km2 (27,048 sq mi), IUCN category IV
- Cod Grounds Marine Park – Australian marine park off Laurieton, New South Wales, (2007), 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi), UCN category II
- Gifford Marine Park – Australian marine park in the Temperate East Marine Parks network
- Hunter Marine Park – Australian marine park in the Temperate East Marine Parks network
- Jervis Marine Park – Australian marine park in the Temperate East Marine Parks network
- Lord Howe Marine Park – Australian marine park offshore of New South Wales, near Lord Howe Island, (2018), 110,126 km2 (42,520 sq mi),IUCN category IV
- Norfolk Marine Park – Australian marine park offshore of Norfolk Island, (2018), 188,444 km2 (72,759 sq mi), IUCN category IV
- Solitary Islands Marine Park – Marine protected area in New South Wales, Australia
- South-east Network – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government
- Apollo Marine Park – Marine park in Australia in Bass Strait off the coast of Victoria, (2007), 2,928 km2 (1,131 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Beagle Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area in the Bass Strai off Victoria, (2007), 2,928 km2 (1,131 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Boags Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area in Bass Strait off north-west Tasmania, (2007), 537 km2 (207 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- East Gippsland Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protexted area near the New South Wales-Victoria border, (2007), 4,137 km2 (1,597 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Flinders Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area off north-east Tasmania, (2007), 27,043 km2 (10,441 sq mi), IUCN category II
- Franklin Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area off north-west Tasmania, (2007), 671 km2 (259 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Freycinet Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area off the east coast of Tasmania., (2007), 57,942 km2 (22,372 sq mi) , IUCN category II
- Huon Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area south of Hobart, Tasmania, (2007), 9,991 km2 (3,858 sq mi) , IUCN category VI
- Macquarie Island Marine Park – Australian Marine Park near Macquarie Island in the southwest Pacific, (1999), 162,000 km2 (63,000 sq mi), IUCN category IV
- Murray Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area off the coast of South Australia, (2007), 25,803 km2 (9,963 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Nelson Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area near the South Australia-Victoria border, (2007), 6,123 km2 (2,364 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- South Tasman Rise Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Marine protected area south of Tasmania, (2007), 27,704 km2 (10,697 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Tasman Fracture Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Australian marine protected area off south-west Tasmania, (2007), 42,502 km2 (16,410 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Zeehan Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Austrlian marine protected area west of Tasmania, (2007), 19,897 km2 (7,682 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- South-west Network – Marine protected areas managed by the Australian government
- Abrolhos Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- Bremer Marine Park – Marine protected area off Western Australia, (2013), 4,472 km2 (1,727 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Eastern Recherche Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- Geographe Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- Great Australian Bight Marine Park – Marine protected area in the Great Australian Bight off South Australia, (2012), 45,926 km2 (17,732 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Jurien Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- Murat Marine Park, (2012), 937.77 km2 (362.08 sq mi), IUCN category II
- Perth Canyon Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- South-west Corner Marine Park – Marine protected area off Western Australia, (2013), 271,833 km2 (104,955 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Southern Kangaroo Island Marine Park – Marine protected area south of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, (2012), 629.93 km2 (243.22 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Twilight Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- Two Rocks Marine Park – Australian marine park in the South-west Marine Parks network
- Western Eyre Marine Park – Marine protected area in the Great Australian Bight, off South Australia, (2012), 57,946 km2 (22,373 sq mi), IUCN category VI
- Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park – Marine protected area south-west of Kangaroo Island in Australia, (2012), 2,335.31 km2 (901.67 sq mi), IUCN category VI
Europe
Finland
Sweden
United Kingdom
- Port Erin Bay MNR, Isle of Man, (2018), 4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)[21]
North America
United States of America
- Cabrillo State Marine Reserve, (2010), .38 sq mi (0.98 km2)
- Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas, Gulf, (2002), 866,717 km2 (334,641 sq mi)[7]
- Pacific Remote Islands, (2009), 1,277,860.0 km2 (493,384.5 sq mi), IUCN Category V[22]
Oceania
Cook Islands
- Marae Moana – Marine protected area in the Cook Islands, (2017), 1,981,965 km2 (765,241 sq mi),[7] IUCN Category VI.[23]
New Zealand
- Poor Knights Islands – Group of islands and marine reserve off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, 1981, 19.22 km2 (7.42 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[24]
- Cape Rodney-Okakari Point, 1975, 5.56 km2 (2.15 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[25]
- Moutere Hauriri / Bounty Islands, 2014, 1,046.33 km2 (403.99 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[26]
- Moutere Mahue / Antipodes Island, 2014, 2,173.1 km2 (839.0 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[27]
- Tawharanui, 2011, 3.94 km2 (1.52 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[28]
- Tuhua (Mayor Island), 1992, 10.55 km2 (4.07 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[29]
South America
Chile
Ecuador
- Galápagos Islands – Archipelago and protected area of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, 1998, 126,972.09 km2 (49,024.20 sq mi)[30]
Grenada
- Grande Anse, (2018), 17.83 km2 (6.88 sq mi)[21]
Areas beyond national jurisdiction
To be integrated
- Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres australes françaises, (2017) 1,654,999 km2 (638,999 sq mi)[7]
- Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – 583,000 square miles of ocean waters, including ten islands and atolls of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, (2006), 1,516,557 km2 (585,546 sq mi)[7]
- Parc Naturel de la Mer de Corail, (2014), 1,291,643 km2 (498,706 sq mi)[7]
- Pacific Remote Islands, (2009) 1,277,784 km2 (493,355 sq mi)[7]
- South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area, (2012), 1,069,872 km2 (413,080 sq mi)[7]
- Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve, (2016), 839,568 km2 (324,159 sq mi)[7]
References
- "Towards Networks of Marine Protected Areas - The MPA Plan of Action for IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas" (PDF). IUCN. 2008-11-04. Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
- "When is a Marine Protected Area really a Marine Protected Area". International Union for Conservation of Nature. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- "Protected areas coverage in 2019". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Bazaruto in Mozambique". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Meet South Africa's new Marine Protected Areas". www.marineprotectedareas.org.za. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- "Declarations". Pretoria: Government Printer. Retrieved 18 January 2019 – via Centre for Environmental rights.
- "Size distribution of marine protected areas". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "Ao Phanganga in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Had Chao Mai in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Had Noparatthara - Mu Koh Phi Phi in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Khao Laem Ya - Mu Koh Samed in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Khao Sam Roi Yot in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Lam Son in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Mu Ko Ang Thong in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Mu Ko Chang in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Mu Ko Lanta in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Mu Ko Preta in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Ao Phangnga - Mu Koh Surin - Mu Koh Similan in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Mu Ko Surin in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Tarutao in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- "Most recent designations". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "Pacific Remote Islands in United States Minor Outlying Islands". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Cook Islands Marine Park in Cook Islands". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Cape Rodney-Okakari Point in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Moutere Hauriri / Bounty Islands in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Moutere Mahue / Antipodes Island in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Tawharanui in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Tuhua (Mayor Island) in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Galápagos in Ecuador". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "Charlie-Gibbs North High Seas MPA in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "MAR North of the Azores High Seas MPA in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.