Marine protected areas (MPAs)are marine environments that enjoy certain federal, state, local, or tribal regulation and conservation management programs by virtue of their unique ecosystems and/or cultural resources.

Known variously as marine reserves, marine sanctuaries, and/or no-take areas, marine protected areas may include national marine sanctuaries, marine features of national parks and monuments, marine wildlife refuges, fishery reserves, estuarine reserves, or state conservation areas and reserves. They may be regulated as no-take areas, meaning that marine resources and/or marine life cannot be removed from these sanctuaries. Or, they may allow fishing and other commercial or recreational activities within certain guidelines and limitations. Management of an MPA is determined on a site-by-site basis by one or more federal, state, territorial, local, and/or tribal regulatory authorities.

Marine protected areas are not just a reaction to the effects of industrialization. They have...