Introduction

Conservation of the world's marine biological diversity has increasingly come to rely upon the establishment of formally designated protected areas. Whilst the overriding priority for such areas remains the conservation of marine habitats and associated biodiversity, environmentalists also widely recognize that the management of such areas cannot ignore the broad array of human interests and needs often associated with densely populated coastal regions. This understanding has led to the development of so-called ‘integrated’ approaches to marine management that environmentalists believe will enable important conservation goals to be achieved, whilst also accommodating the diverse needs of different user groups. Such approaches have come to rely heavily upon the creation of multiple-purpose management strategies that include the designation of different resource-usage zones, developing strict regulations and permit systems for the control of exploitative practices, as well as actively engaging in various forms of public education and awareness raising. In the face of major challenges associated with addressing issues of biodiversity loss and resource decline, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are today being widely promoted as a valuable strategy for marine conservation efforts globally.

Without urgent intervention, such as that proposed by a well-managed network of MPAs, it is argued that biologically diverse marine environments will continue to face ongoing decline and degradation with little future prospect for rehabilitation and protection (The Nature Conservancy 2006).