List of marine protected areas

Map showing the share of marine territorial waters protected by country (2021)

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 considered 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

Kenya

Madagascar

Mozambique

  • Bazaruto National Park – Marine and terrestrial protected area in the Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique, 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.

Tanzania

Antarctica

  • Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area, 2,060,058 km2 (795,393 sq mi)[7]

Asia

Cambodia

China

India

Indonesia

Marine protected areas in the Bird's Head Peninsula, Indonesia.

Malaysia

Maldives

Thailand

Europe

Italy

Finland

  • Metsäkuohu, (2018), 0.08 km2 (0.031 sq mi)[27]
  • Tervapesä, (2018), 0.07 km2 (0.027 sq mi)[27]

Sweden

  • Småbodarna, (2018), 0.11 km2 (0.042 sq mi)[27]
  • Långstrandberget, (2018), 0.74 km2 (0.29 sq mi)[27]
  • Björkbergsbacken, (2018), 0.14 km2 (0.054 sq mi)[27]
  • Höksberget, (2018), 0.56 km2 (0.22 sq mi)[27]

United Kingdom

  • Port Erin Bay MNR, Isle of Man, (2018), 4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)[27]

UK Overseas Territories[28]

North America

Canada

In Canada, the constitutional division of powers between the federal government and the provinces as it relates to the marine environment is complex. In general, the federal government coordinates the protection of marine areas in cooperation with provincial authorities.[30][31] The federal marine protected areas network consists of three core programs: Marine Protected Areas protected under the Oceans Act, marine National Wildlife Areas protected under the Canada Wildlife Act, and National Marine Conservation Areas protected under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.[32]

Cuba

United States

Oceania

Australia

Cook Islands

  • Marae Moana – Marine protected area in the Cook Islands, (2017), 1,981,965 km2 (765,241 sq mi),[7] IUCN Category VI.[34]

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.[35]
  • Cape Rodney-Okakari Point, 1975, 5.56 km2 (2.15 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[36]
  • Moutere Hauriri / Bounty Islands, 2014, 1,046.33 km2 (403.99 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[37]
  • Moutere Mahue / Antipodes Island, 2014, 2,173.1 km2 (839.0 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[38]
  • Tawharanui – Peninisula in the North Island of New Zealand, 2011, 3.94 km2 (1.52 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[39]
  • Tuhua (Mayor Island), 1992, 10.55 km2 (4.07 sq mi), IUCN Category Ia.[40]

Palau

South America

Brazil

Chile

  • Islas Diego Ramírez y Paso Drake, (2019), 1,443.91 km2 (557.50 sq mi)[27]
  • Humedales Costeros de la Bahía Tongoy, (2018), 2.59 km2 (1.00 sq mi)[27]

Ecuador

Grenada

  • Grande Anse, (2018), 17.83 km2 (6.88 sq mi)[27]

Areas beyond national jurisdiction

  • Charlie-Gibbs North High Seas MPA, 2012, 178,651.0 km2 (68,977.5 sq mi)[43]
  • MAR North of the Azores High Seas MPA, 2010, 93,572.46 km2 (36,128.53 sq mi)[44]

To be integrated

  • Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Terres australes françaises, (2017) 1,654,999 km2 (638,999 sq mi)[7]
  • Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – US protected region of ocean and 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]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "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 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  2. 1 2 "When is a Marine Protected Area really a Marine Protected Area". International Union for Conservation of Nature. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  3. ↑ "Protected areas coverage in 2019". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  4. ↑ "Bazaruto in Mozambique". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Meet South Africa's new Marine Protected Areas". www.marineprotectedareas.org.za. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Declarations". Pretoria: Government Printer. Retrieved 18 January 2019 – via Centre for Environmental rights.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Size distribution of marine protected areas". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  8. ↑ "Protected Planet | Samut Kaoh Rung". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  9. ↑ "Protected Planet | Komodo National Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  10. ↑ "Protected Planet | Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  11. ↑ "Protected Planet | Sugud Island Marine Conservation Area". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  12. ↑ "Protected Planet | Tun Mustapha Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  13. ↑ www.protectedplanet.net https://www.protectedplanet.net/. Retrieved 6 June 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ "Ao Phanganga in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ "Had Chao Mai in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "Had Noparatthara - Mu Koh Phi Phi in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "Khao Laem Ya - Mu Koh Samed in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  18. ↑ "Khao Sam Roi Yot in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  19. ↑ "Lam Son in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  20. ↑ "Mu Ko Ang Thong in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  21. ↑ "Mu Ko Chang in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  22. ↑ "Mu Ko Lanta in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  23. ↑ "Mu Ko Preta in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  24. ↑ "Ao Phangnga - Mu Koh Surin - Mu Koh Similan in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  25. ↑ "Mu Ko Surin in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  26. ↑ "Tarutao in Thailand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Most recent designations". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  28. ↑ "The Blue Belt programme". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  29. ↑ Grundy, Richard. "Tristan's Marine Protection Zone Announced". www.tristandc.com. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  30. ↑ Becklumb, Peggy (October 29, 2019). "Federal and Provincial Jurisdiction to Regulate Environmental Issues". Background Papers. Library of Parliament. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  31. ↑ Davis, Neil. "Marine Protected Areas in British Columbia". Biodiversity of British Columbia. University of British Columbia. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Protected Areas Explained". Nature Canada. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Pacific Remote Islands in United States Minor Outlying Islands". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  34. ↑ "Cook Islands Marine Park in Cook Islands". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  35. ↑ "Poor Knights Islands in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  36. ↑ "Cape Rodney-Okakari Point in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  37. ↑ "Moutere Hauriri / Bounty Islands in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  38. ↑ "Moutere Mahue / Antipodes Island in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  39. ↑ "Tawharanui in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  40. ↑ "Tuhua (Mayor Island) in New Zealand". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  41. ↑ "Protected Planet | Palau National Marine Sanctuary". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  42. ↑ "Galápagos in Ecuador". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  43. ↑ "Charlie-Gibbs North High Seas MPA in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  44. ↑ "MAR North of the Azores High Seas MPA in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction". www.protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 4 June 2019.