PROTECT - EU research on marine protected areas as a tool for ecosystem conservation and fisheries management

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are currently seen as a tool for both fisheries management and marine environmental protection. However, although many potential benefits of MPAs have been identified, little empirical evidence exists to demonstrate the full potential of MPAs in a temperate water setting. This is partly due to insufficient scientific knowledge and tools for MPA selection, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. In particular, the coupling between fisheries management and environmental protection requires further attention.

PROTECT was an interdisciplinary research project involving 17 European institutions aiming to strengthen the decision basis regarding potential use, selection, development and management of MPAs in Europe, as part of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.

To address a range of issues relating to development and management of MPAs in temperate waters, PROTECT undertook three case studies covering a range of ecological, economic and fisheries management scenarios.

The project ran from January 2005 to June 2008 with support from the EU 6th Framework Programme.

Key PROTECT documents   

 

PROTECT MPA Review

Review of Marine Protected Areas as a Tool for Ecosystem Conservation and Fisheries Management

Project Synthesis

Final report of PROTECT

ICES Journal of Marine Science
Symposium issue from the European Symposium on Marine Protected Areas as a Tool for Fisheries Management and Ecosystem Conservation

PROTECT Brochure

Short introduction to the project