In 2010 the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the Convention on Biological Diversity revised and updated a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, which included the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Here a group of early career researchers mentored by senior scientists, convened as part of the 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, reflects on the accomplishments and shortfalls under four of the Aichi Targets considered highly relevant to marine conservation: target 6 (sustainable fisheries), 11 (protection measures), 15 (ecosystem restoration and resilience) and 19 (knowledge, science and technology). We conclude that although progress has been made towards the targets, these have not been fully achieved for the marine environment by the 2020 deadline. The progress made, however, lays the foundations for further work beyond 2020 to work towards the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity. We identify key priorities that must be addressed to better enable marine biodiversity conservation efforts moving forward.
Global trends in the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a key tool in the sustainable management of our oceans and seas has reached fever pitch in the last decade. The UK's efforts over the past decade to develop a MPA network meets multiple international and national obligations and will hopefully deliver a healthy marine environment for future generations. The UK has a significant number of 'lines on maps' covering nearly 25% of its EEZ.Much effort is now focused on site management and monitoring programmes to check progress.Getting more than 580 MPAs that protect seabed habitats, fish, birds and mammals involved huge data collation and collection exercises, countless meetings and workshops with national and international sea-users, exploratory marine monitoring surveys and complex discussions between regulators and users on management measures. Multiple analyses have checked progress with meeting ecological network criteria. The UK is in a strong position to reflect on our experiences and help stimulate the exchange of ideas on marine protection at the international level. We will describe the key experiences from our work so far, positive and challenging, and outline next steps to fully deliver an ecologically coherent and well-managed MPA network in UK waters.
Global trends in the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a key tool in the sustainable management of our oceans and seas has reached fever pitch in the last decade. The UK's efforts over the past decade to develop a MPA network meets multiple international and national obligations and will hopefully deliver a healthy marine environment for future generations. The UK has a significant number of 'lines on maps' covering nearly 25% of its EEZ.Much effort is now focused on site management and monitoring programmes to check progress.Getting more than 580 MPAs that protect seabed habitats, fish, birds and mammals involved huge data collation and collection exercises, countless meetings and workshops with national and international sea-users, exploratory marine monitoring surveys and complex discussions between regulators and users on management measures. Multiple analyses have checked progress with meeting ecological network criteria. The UK is in a strong position to reflect on our experiences and help stimulate the exchange of ideas on marine protection at the international level. We will describe the key experiences from our work so far, positive and challenging, and outline next steps to fully deliver an ecologically coherent and well-managed MPA network in UK waters.
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