Protecting Ocean Habitats

Today, less than 10% of the Earth’s ocean areas are protected in any kind of marine, benthic (sea bottom), or other protected area. Achieving the United Nations goal of 30% protection by 2030 will require a significant increase in marine conservation and protection.

To reach these targets and institutionalize effective and fair protections where fishing is ongoing, the fishing industry must be represented in marine protected areas (MPA) design and decision-making processes from the beginning.

SFP offers a unique ability to bring our corporate partners and other seafood industry actors to the table and help make them champions of marine protection. We offer industry information and guidance to understand the long-term ecological, social, and economic benefits of marine protected areas, and to recognize that thriving fisheries can and should be a key part of effective marine conservation.

Principles of respectful MPAs

There are many principles, covering a wide range of issues, that should apply for effective and long-lasting marine conservation. SFP focuses on principles related to the fishing and seafood industry:

1. Include fishers in MPA design discussions from Day 1.
2. Design MPAs to minimize disruption to managed fisheries, avoiding existing and potential future grounds.
3. Compensate fishers for loss of current fishing grounds.
4. Only take grounds with prior informed consent.
5. First identify and map areas of low importance for fishing and high value for protection.
6. Seek creative solutions, for example employing fishers to collect and submit data in exchange for continued fishing access.

These principles must be included in MPA design. SFP is committed to work with the fishing industry and other stakeholders to ensure MPA designation is effective, fair, and robust.