By Nick Engelfried
The 582,578 square miles of ocean and small islands in Hawaii’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument encompass an area larger than all land-based U.S. national parks combined, providing a refuge for animals from tiny coral polyps to blue whales. The monument’s extensive coral reefs support countless tropical fish and invertebrates, while its underwater seamounts are home to unique ecosystems that still have yet to be fully explored by scientists. Threatened and endangered species in the protected area include green sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, and the extremely rare Laysan duck.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is a particularly significant example of what are often referred to as Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs. While most marine scientists and conservationists agree that MPAs must play an important role in protecting ocean life, only a tiny fraction of the seas have received the degree of protection afforded to Papahānaumokuākea. At a time when ocean ecosystems and the species they support are under threat as never before, the debate over MPAs couldn’t be more urgent.

The term “Marine Protected Area” can actually be misleading, as most MPAs are not fully protected from exploitation. While all are subject to some restrictions on human activity–and most are protected from industries like mining and oil drilling–fishing and various kinds of recreation may still be allowed. The most strictly protected MPAs are marine reserves, places where commercial fishing and all other forms of large-scale resource extraction are usually banned. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is effectively a marine reserve where ocean and island life can exist unperturbed.

According to Greenpeace, “The best way to truly defend our oceans is to protect significant portions of them from exploitation. Networks of protected areas [such as marine reserves] can provide safe refuges for migrating marine species and protected zones for vulnerable habitats that support many species and a complex food web.” Groups like Greenpeace have made the establishment of marine reserves a major priority, and in recent years have seen major victories with the creation of new reserves in several countries. However, today less than 10% of the world’s ocean area sits inside any type of MPA, with under 2% falling inside a marine reserve. For endangered ocean wildlife this lack of protection represents an existential threat.

To be sure, MPAs and marine reserves are not a cure-all for the oceans. Some of the biggest threats to marine ecosystems–such as climate change, ocean acidification, and plastic pollution–wreak havoc even in areas where more direct forms of human interference are banned. However, this does not lessen the importance of protected areas. For example, ecosystems that aren’t subjected to the additional pressures of fishing are likely to be more resilient to at least some impacts of climate change. If paired with other efforts like action to curb carbon pollution and rein in plastic waste, properly managed MPAs could play a crucial role in securing a future for ocean wildlife of all kinds.

The idea behind MPAs is simple: if large parts of the oceans are protected from some or all forms of human interference, animals within those areas will be able to replenish their numbers in an undisturbed habitat. Theoretically, marine reserves could also benefit nearby fisheries by allowing fish stocks to recover and “spill over” into areas where fishing is still allowed. Much of the effectiveness of a reserve or other MPA depends on the details of how it is managed, though. For example, some MPAs are basically “paper parks,” officially protected but with few resources to actually enforce rules banning fishing or other resource extraction.

Protected areas established with participation and buy-in from nearby communities are much more likely to succeed for the long term. MPAs need to be managed in a way that locals feel supports their interests, not just those of large conservation groups, and coastal communities in many countries are taking protection of their marine resources into their own hands. A 2014 study by researchers from the University of York found that almost half the MPAs in the Western Indian Ocean are “locally managed marine areas,” falling under the jurisdiction of nearby communities rather than national governments. In countries like Madagascar and Tanzania, these locally managed areas are helping to conserve ocean species in a way that benefits locals.

National governments and conservation groups can also engage with affected communities to improve the management of MPAs and marine reserves. The expansion of Papahānaumokuākea National Monument to its current vast size came after a long process of consultation between Hawaii lawmakers, local interest groups, and the federal government. Originally established by President George W. Bush in 2006, the area of Papahānaumokuākea was more than quadrupled by President Barack Obama ten years later in 2016.

When it comes to new marine reserves, 2016 was something of a banner year. Papahānaumokuākea National Monument was the largest such reserve anywhere in the world at the time of its expansion, but it didn’t hold that title for long. A few months later, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources–an international governing body–created a marine reserve encompassing 600,000 square miles in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. As a result, thousands of emperor and Adélie penguins, minke whales, and other ocean animals now have a safe refuge in the Southern Ocean.

Under the Trump administration, the establishment of new marine reserves in U.S. waters came to a halt. Not only did President Trump break with his most recent predecessors by declining to establish new protected areas; his administration has taken steps to abolish protections for existing reserves like Papahānaumokuākea and re-open them to commercial fishing. However, this hasn’t stopped other countries from making progress in the absence of U.S. leadership.

Chile, a country with a long coastline whose economy relies heavily on the fishing industry, has designated 43% of its territorial waters as protected areas. The South American nation’s more than two dozen MPAs include the Diego Ramírez-Drake Passage Marine Park, established in 2019, a 55,749 square mile reserve that supports species like gray-headed and black-browed albatrosses and macaroni and chinstrap penguins. Another country that has taken recent action to vastly expand protected areas is the island nation of Seychelles. In March 2020, Seychelles’ president announced the creation of 13 new MPAs covering 154,000 square miles of coral reefs and other ocean habitat. Approximately half of these MPAs qualify as reserves where commercial fishing is banned.

Despite such recent strides toward conservation of marine life, we still have a very long way to go. Greenpeace advocates protecting 30% of the world’s oceans within marine reserves by the year 2030, a goal that is in line with what scientists say is necessary to prevent the mass extinction of sea life. With less than 2% of marine habitats currently receiving such protections, it is clear much work remains to be done. Securing a safe future for the oceans’ intricate web of life will take hard work from governments, nonprofits, and ordinary people all over the world. It may not be easy; but with so much at stake, the imperative for action couldn’t be clearer.

Photo credit: Carol

Wait, there’s one more step:

Over 1,483,780 Animal Shelter Meals Donated So Far –

Upgrade to a Premium Membership to get a free No Excuse For Animal Abuse shirt, feed shelter animals with the Educational Series and Meal Wheel, sign 100’s of petitions with one-click, remove ads, and promote your favorite petitions to millions!

7 day money-back guarantee for new members. Zero risk.

Premium Membership comes with the following perks:

• Get a free No Excuse For Animal Abuse shirt.
• Feed shelter animals by spinning the Meal Wheel.
• Sign 100’s of petitions with one-click.
• Feed shelter animals with the Educational Series quizzes.
• Remove ads and vote on which petitions are displayed to millions of people.

Our Guarantee:

Cancel your subscription for any reason within 7 days and we’ll refund 100% of your money, as long as you’re a first time member.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How are the animal shelter meals donated?

We donate shelter meals through Rescue Bank because they research all shelters, maintain equitable distribution, and track the meals from their facilities all the way to the rescue groups. This ensures that the donation will be utilized in the most efficient and impacting way.

Why don’t we just donate meals without providing any perks like the Meal Wheel?

We’ve been at this since 2008 and have learned that to really make a difference, we need to get people excited and engaged. Our mission is a serious one, but our methods are playful and educational. We’re serious about doing good, but also want to make it fun.

Who are we?

We are a family of sites that works to protect animals, the environment, and more. Our sites include AnimalPetitions.org and ForceChange.com. We’ve been at this for over a decade and are dedicated to protecting and defending animals and the environment. If we can have some fun and improve the world, then we’re accomplishing our goal!

Try Premium!

We’ve Been Doing This for Over a Decade and Others Have Taken Notice:

7 Day Guarantee!

Testimonials:

“Thank you SO much for the premium feature of being able to sign multiple petitions with one click. Many of us go for hours at a time signing each and every petition and crying as we read them. I have often wished for a way to sign my name on every petition because I passionately support them and they all need our voice. This is the best thing – thank you very much!” -Karilyn K., Premium Member

“This is just the most amazing wonderful service that makes me so happy! To be able to feed shelter pets is just the greatest feeling. Thanks again for this, and for all you do for the most innocent and helpless among us, the animals. I’m lovestruck.” Sandra Z., Premium Member

“I love the upgrade option and I am so glad I did it.....it enables me to stand with you and many others to fight for the justice these precious souls deserve! We are their voice!!!! And....I adore helping to feed them as well! The spin the wheel game is fun....and I like doing it everyday to help! Keep up the wonderful work....and I know....every click makes a difference!” Dorothy B., Premium Member

“I am so excited to become a Premium Member and to have one-click signing, as I was spending countless hours signing petitions...not that I mind doing it, but my goodness, there sure are a lot of them. I always hope that my signature somehow helps, because these people that abuse/torture animals, need to be put away. As you can tell, that is my passion, I have such a heart for animals, and I want to be their voice.” Darlene R., Premium Member

“Thank you so much! I love being a premium member and spinning that wheel every day, especially when I land on 4 or, best of all, 5 meals. Thank you for all you do, we are all so grateful for you.” Sandy T., Premium Member

“With deepest Aloha, You have no idea how grateful I am for you!” Jan L., Premium Member

“Thank you for the Premium Membership option. I really appreciate that I can sign multiple petitions with one click. It's great! Thank you for the work you do.” Ashley H., Premium Member

“I absolutely love the Educational Series!” Yvonne L., Premium Member

"I am a premium member and religiously sign every petition. THANK YOU for this platform. I also vote for the petition nearest my heart, sometimes voting globally, sometimes I am caught by an individual animal's plight. What gives me great pleasure is noting that almost always, the percentages have no more than a 6-7% spread. It means that, overall, everyone cares about all of the petitions ALMOST EQUALLY! LOL, I also spin that wheel, and when I get 4 or 5 meals, I dance around the room! I have long maintained that what someone does to a helpless animal, they will do to a weaker human if they think that they can get away with it. Those who abuse, no matter how many legs their victims have, should be punished to the fullest extent of the law." Rebecca E., Premium Member

"I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Premium Membership! Everything and anything I can do to help animals and contribute to justice in the world makes me very happy!" Jan L., Premium Member

"Thank you, I love what you do. My friends and I love the membership because we can sign so many more petitions that we may never had heard of. Keep up the good work." Virginia G., Premium Member

---

Still have questions? Email us: animalpetitions@forcechange.com

[easy-social-share buttons=”facebook,mail” morebutton=”1″ counters=0 fullwidth=”yes” query=”yes”]
Nick Engelfried Writes About Animals, the Environment, and Conservation for the ForceChange network