Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally.

dc.contributor.author

Gill, David A

dc.contributor.author

Mascia, Michael B

dc.contributor.author

Ahmadia, Gabby N

dc.contributor.author

Glew, Louise

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Lester, Sarah E

dc.contributor.author

Barnes, Megan

dc.contributor.author

Craigie, Ian

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Darling, Emily S

dc.contributor.author

Free, Christopher M

dc.contributor.author

Geldmann, Jonas

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Holst, Susie

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Jensen, Olaf P

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White, Alan T

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Basurto, Xavier

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Coad, Lauren

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Gates, Ruth D

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Guannel, Greg

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Mumby, Peter J

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Thomas, Hannah

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Whitmee, Sarah

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Woodley, Stephen

dc.contributor.author

Fox, Helen E

dc.date.accessioned

2019-06-01T15:18:28Z

dc.date.available

2019-06-01T15:18:28Z

dc.date.issued

2017-03-22

dc.date.updated

2019-06-01T15:18:24Z

dc.description.abstract

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being used globally to conserve marine resources. However, whether many MPAs are being effectively and equitably managed, and how MPA management influences substantive outcomes remain unknown. We developed a global database of management and fish population data (433 and 218 MPAs, respectively) to assess: MPA management processes; the effects of MPAs on fish populations; and relationships between management processes and ecological effects. Here we report that many MPAs failed to meet thresholds for effective and equitable management processes, with widespread shortfalls in staff and financial resources. Although 71% of MPAs positively influenced fish populations, these conservation impacts were highly variable. Staff and budget capacity were the strongest predictors of conservation impact: MPAs with adequate staff capacity had ecological effects 2.9 times greater than MPAs with inadequate capacity. Thus, continued global expansion of MPAs without adequate investment in human and financial capacity is likely to lead to sub-optimal conservation outcomes.

dc.identifier

nature21708

dc.identifier.issn

0028-0836

dc.identifier.issn

1476-4687

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/18610

dc.language

eng

dc.publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

dc.relation.ispartof

Nature

dc.relation.isversionof

10.1038/nature21708

dc.subject

Animals

dc.subject

Fishes

dc.subject

Goals

dc.subject

Ecology

dc.subject

Conservation of Natural Resources

dc.subject

Biomass

dc.subject

Population Dynamics

dc.subject

Internationality

dc.subject

Aquatic Organisms

dc.title

Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Gill, David A|0000-0002-7550-1761

duke.contributor.orcid

Basurto, Xavier|0000-0002-5321-3654

pubs.begin-page

665

pubs.end-page

669

pubs.issue

7647

pubs.organisational-group

Nicholas School of the Environment

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

pubs.organisational-group

Marine Science and Conservation

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

543

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