These recent articles on MPA-related science and policy are each free to access.

Article: Dalton, K. et al. 2020. Marine-Related Learning Networks: Shifting the Paradigm Toward Collaborative Ocean Governance. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:595054.

Finding: Marine-related learning networks, including regional networks of MPA managers, play multifaceted roles within ocean governance systems by facilitating knowledge creation and exchange, and by building the capacity of individuals and institutions.


Article: Turnbull, J.W. et al. 2021. Evaluating the social and ecological effectiveness of partially protected marine areas. Conservation Biology, published 14 January 2021.

Finding: Conservation outcomes can be improved by upgrading partially protected areas to higher levels of protection, including conversion to fully protected areas.


Article: Pinsky, M.L. et al. 2020. Ocean planning for species on the move provides substantial benefits and requires few trade-offs. Science Advances 6:50.

Finding: Planning proactively for long-term ocean change, including with conservation areas that move over time to follow the redistribution of species, can be done in ways that provide substantial conservation benefits without substantial costs to maritime industries.


Article: Freedman, R.M. et al. 2020. Marine protected areas do not prevent marine heatwave-induced fish community structure changes in a temperate transition zone. Scientific Reports 10:21081.

Finding: MPAs alone cannot mitigate acute ecosystem change during heat waves, so resource managers will need to use a suite of conservation options to maintain ecosystem services as heat waves become more common.