Why we need to create marine protected areas in the ocean
Environment & Science ▼World
The Problem
Marine protected areas (MPA) are used around the world to protect coastal flora and fauna. By setting an area where fishermen cannot fish, it allows for the replenishment of fish and also for the coral to be preserved. However, MPA often suffer from lack of management or limited budgets or struggle with conflicting interests, notably with local fishermen. Implementing effective conservation strategies involves research. How can we preserve the environment while ensuring the local community's livelihood?
The Solution
The Lyme Bay project aims to merge conservation and commercial interests, building a sustainable model for small-scale fishing communities around the UK coast and in the Mediterranean. Started 8 years ago, the model has proven that it is possible to fish in a marine protected area to the benefit of marine life and the local fishing community.
How did BLUE do that? They set up a working group of fishermen, scientists and regulators to manage the Lyme Bay Reserve. The working group developed a detailed code of conduct to regulate fishing activity. The code requires vessels fishing in the area to have a monitoring system of what they are fishing and where. It sets limits on gear type, mesh size, number of pots, length of nets. It encourages fishermen to put aside berried lobsters, provide escape hatches on pots for juveniles.
WHY WALK THE TALK SUPPORTS BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION
Supporting fishing communities
£300
for emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBS) triggered in case of an accident. (10 needed)
£1,400
for 4-man life rafts (£1400 each): new legislation means that all inshore fishermen need new life rafts. (10 needed)
Reducing Fish Waste
£750
for temperature probes to guarantee the fish are maintained at the correct temperature to ensure freshness at the market.
£2,000
for a West Bay cladded chiller, a significantly more economic chiller unit. The insulation will facilitate cheaper annual running costs.
Oceana, Froese, Rainer et al report 2016
Blue Marine Foundation's Impact
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The changemaker
Clare Brook
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Clare is the CEO of BLUE. Before this, she was a pioneer of environmental investing. As a SRI fund manager and then Head of Socially Responsible Investment at Aviva, Claire aims to combine the rigour of the investment world with her passion for solving environmental problems
Why WALK THE TALK SUPPORTS BLUE MARINE
Established in 2011, The Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) is working to solve the crisis in the oceans by providing innovative solutions to overfishing and enabling the creation of marine reserves. Their aim is to. put 10% of the world’s oceans under protection by 2020, and 30% by 2030.
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