Evaluating Protected Area Approaches to Fisheries Conservation in Marine and Freshwater Systems

Various tools exist for the management of aquatic habitats and resources. The implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) is one such approach claiming both worldwide and national attention – with frequent controversy in fisheries conservation contexts. Protected areas can target the conservation of the ecosystems that support resilient fisheries, they can serve cultural interests that enable community and place-based stewardship, and in some cases they also impose limitations to fishing effort.  At first glance, some might claim that the MPA concept has not been fully explored in freshwater contexts. However, there are examples of aquatic protected areas (APAs) designated by management agencies for fisheries restoration purposes that illustrate this tool’s potential to span aquatic system boundaries. There are also APAs established for social or cultural purposes – which can further promote the conservation ethic and enhanced political will needed to support sustainable fisheries at a global scale. We will draw from previous research reviews and case studies to compare APAs and MPAs as fisheries management tools, and we will explore social dynamics that can stunt collaboration. Ultimately, this invites discussion about how these cross-system linkages might foster meaningful shifts in perceptions for the benefit of global fisheries conservation and sustainability.