Major data gaps and recommendations in monitoring regulations of activities in EU marine protected areas
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a central role in maritime policies, but there are no comprehensive analyses of regulations in EU MPAs. Using publicly available data on EU MPAs’ regulations for nine activities, we first show that MPA and MSP databases display significant gaps in data comprehensiveness. The regulation of each activity was known in 40% or less of the MPA area (whether allowed, prohibited, or restricted), except for fishing activities (70% of MPA area), albeit with limited detail. Fishing, mining, or dredging/dumping activities were allowed in half of MPA area. Only mining was reported as prohibited in at least 10% of the MPA area. We discuss gaps in MPA regulatory data in light of existing reporting requirements, insufficient connection between various actors and data sources, and challenges in translating legal information into actionable indicators. We provide recommendations for future initiatives to improve the collection and standardization for environmental policies.
Source: npj Ocean Sustainability
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université de Bourgogne, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Agroécologie, Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement, University of Algarve, Anthropocene Institute (United States), University of Bristol, Ifremer, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, AMURE - Centre de droit et d'économie de la mer, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, University of Bucharest, Ovidius University
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,090
Awards: G1220174560, G1483381719, G200995606, G2853317115, Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, G3436078005, Towards effective protection of European Marine Protected Areas: Investigating ecological dimensions, social and psychological barriers of different protection levels, to reach the EU’s 2030 Biodiversity Targets., Sem título, G3982147887, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Movimentos, hotspots de connectividade e dinâmicas eco-evolutivas: proteção do papel funcional dos peixes costeiros predadores, G6547834732, G6912052472, G6997658380, G7063316358, MARHAB, G7903945180, G8191554803
OpenAlex ID: W4407163848