Marine protected areas (MPAs) represent the main tool for halting the loss of marine biodiversity. However, there is increasing evidence concerning their limited capacity to reduce or eliminate some threats even within their own boundaries. Here, we analysed a Europe-wide dataset comprising 31,579 threats recorded in 1692 sites of the European Union's Natura 2000 conservation network. Focusing specifically on threats related to marine species and habitats, we found that fishing and outdoor activities were the most widespread threats reported within MPA boundaries, although some spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of threats was apparent. Our results dearly demonstrate the need to reconsider current management plans. standardise monitoring approaches and reporting, reline present threat assessments and improve knowledge of their spatial patterns within and outside MPAs in order to improve conservation capacity and outcomes. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
1.Aristotle Univ Thessaloniki, Dept Ecol, Sch Biol, Thessaloniki 54636, Greece 2.Univ Iuav Venice, Dept Architecture & Arts, Tolentini 191, I-30135 Venice, Italy 3.CNR, IAS, Via Giovanni da Verrazzano 17, I-91014 Castellammare Del Golfo, Italy 4.Stn Zool Anton Dohrn, I-80131 Naples, Italy 5.Polytech Univ Marche, Dept Life & Environm Sci, I-60131 Ancona, Italy 6.PSL Univ Paris, Natl Ctr Sci Res, CRIOBE, USR 3278,CNRS,EPHE,UPVD,Maison Oceans, 195 Rue St Jacques, F-75005 Paris, France 7.Lab Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesi, France 8.Israel Oceanog & Limnol Res ILOR, Natl Inst Oceanog, IL-3108001 Haifa, Israel 9.Thunen Inst Sea Fisheries, Herwigstr 31, D-27572 Bremerhaven, Germany 10.Univ Pisa, Dipartimento Biol, Via Derna 1, I-56126 Pisa, Italy 11.CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, I-00196 Rome, Italy 12.NatureBureau, 36 Kingfisher Court, Newbury RG14 5SJ, Berks, England 13.Univ Aegean, Dept Marine Sci, Univ Hill, Mitilini 81100, Greece 14.Univ Napoli Federico II, Dipartimento Biol, Naples, Italy
Recommended Citation:
Mazaris, Antonios D.,Kallimanis, Athanasios,Gissi, Elena,et al. Threats to marine biodiversity in European protected areas[J]. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,2019-01-01,677:418-426