Extractive activities in marine protected areas: moving the bar
Presentation Abstract
How protected are marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Salish Sea? Although we would never expect extractive activities in our national parks, MPAs do not consistently receive the same protection. This paper compares the activities that are currently authorized in MPAs in British Columbia and Washington state. Extractive activities such as oil and gas exploration and development and undersea mining are permissible in some MPAs, either directly with the area or through directional drilling into the seabed. Shipping traffic can harm marine animals through pollution, noise and vessel strikes. Harmful commercial fishing practices and fish farming can put fish populations at risk and cause damage to marine habitat. On the other hand, fully protected MPAs can benefit the overall health of the marine environment. Reforming MPA laws to adopt science-based prohibitions on extractive activities can provide strong, lasting protection to MPAs and to our oceans.
Session Title
Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning: Challenges and Opportunities for Large-scale Ecosystem Protection and Integrated Management in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
SSE8: Policy, Management, and Regulations
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2018 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE8-572
Start Date
6-4-2018 2:15 PM
End Date
6-4-2018 2:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Natural areas--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Marine parks and reserves--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Harbors--Traffic control--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Marine biodiversity--Environmental aspects
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Extractive activities in marine protected areas: moving the bar
How protected are marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Salish Sea? Although we would never expect extractive activities in our national parks, MPAs do not consistently receive the same protection. This paper compares the activities that are currently authorized in MPAs in British Columbia and Washington state. Extractive activities such as oil and gas exploration and development and undersea mining are permissible in some MPAs, either directly with the area or through directional drilling into the seabed. Shipping traffic can harm marine animals through pollution, noise and vessel strikes. Harmful commercial fishing practices and fish farming can put fish populations at risk and cause damage to marine habitat. On the other hand, fully protected MPAs can benefit the overall health of the marine environment. Reforming MPA laws to adopt science-based prohibitions on extractive activities can provide strong, lasting protection to MPAs and to our oceans.
