Large oceanic MPAs effectively safeguard threatened species: research from Chagos Archipelago
Recent research conducted around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean provides compelling evidence that expansive Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a critical role in conserving large, migratory marine species. Published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, the study by scientists from the University of Exeter and Heriot-Watt University highlights the strategic importance of such MPAs in meeting international marine conservation targets.
In brief
Research around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean has shown that large marine protected areas effectively safeguard large migratory species. Scientists from the University of Exeter and Heriot-Watt University, publishing in the Journal of Applied Ecology, tracked hawksbill turtles, reef manta rays, red-footed boobies, brown boobies and sooty terns. Analyses indicated that after a reduction of the protected area 97 percent of manta habitats and 94 percent of turtle habitats would remain within the protection zone, compared with 59 percent for birds. The research was funded by the Bertarelli Foundation.
Very large MPAs—defined as areas exceeding 100,000 square kilometers—are considered vital to achieving global goals such as protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. However, their conservation effectiveness has been the subject of debate. Dr. Alice Trevail, lead author of the study, emphasizes that their findings offer clear evidence of the significance of the Chagos MPA for safeguarding diverse, large, and mobile marine species.
The research team tracked the movements of green turtles, reef manta rays, and three seabird species: red-footed boobies, brown boobies, and sooty terns. These large species play essential roles in marine ecosystems, from regulating populations to facilitating nutrient transport across vast oceanic areas, notes Dr. Ruth Dunn of Heriot-Watt University.
Analysis revealed that even with an MPA area reduced to 100,000 km², 97 percent of manta ray habitats and 94 percent of turtle habitats would remain protected. For seabirds, however, only 59 percent of critical habitats would be included, underscoring the need to consider species-specific requirements when delineating MPA boundaries.
The Chagos Archipelago, soon to be administered by Mauritius, exemplifies effective large-scale marine conservation. The study not only confirms the value of large MPAs but also identifies priority zones for long-term protection efforts, according to Dr. Dunn.
- Such discoveries are only possible through interdisciplinary collaboration, comments Ernesto Bertarelli, Chairman of the Bertarelli Foundation, which funded the research. - The results demonstrate how truly large marine protected areas can provide vital protection for threatened species throughout their life cycles.
Source: Gazeta Morska / PAP · Compiled by: Oskar Wojciechowski
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