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Marine Protected Areas as Fisheries Management Tools

Wendy Craik

Australian Fisheries Management Authority, CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA

Theme: TH1

Marine protected areas (MPAs) and fisheries closures can be used within the suite of tools available to fisheries managers. The effectiveness of MPAs and fisheries closures to fisheries management depend on spatial and temporal boundaries and the species being afforded protection. MPAs regulate a range of marine users to achieve biodiversity conservation objectives. Fisheries closures on the other hand regulate fishing to assist in achieving objectives of fisheries management. In practice there can be considerable overlap in the locations of MPAs and fisheries closures. MPAs and fisheries closures should be implemented to maximise areas of overlap wherever the potential to achieve common objectives exists.