Marine Protected Area Networks: Assessing Whether the Whole Is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102298
• Publication Date: 2014-08-01T22:40:57Z
• Authors: Kirsten Grorud-Co...; Joachim Claudet; Brian N. Tissot; Jennifer E. Caselle; Mark H. Carr; Jon C. Day; Alan M. Friedlander; Sarah E. Lester; Thierry Lison de ...; Daniel Malone; William J. Walsh
• Keywords: Marine protected area; Network Structure

Anthropogenic impacts are increasingly affecting the world's oceans. Networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) provide an option for increasing ecological and economic benefits often provided by single MPAs. It is vital to empirically assess effects MPA networks prioritize monitoring data necessary explain those effects. We summarize types based on their intended management outcomes illustrate a framework evaluating whether connectivity network providing outcome greater than sum individual use analysis in Hawai'i compare networked MPAs non-networked demonstrate results consistent with effect. assert that planning processes should identify while also employing coupled field monitoring-simulation modeling approaches, powerful way most relevant assessing performance.