Marine protected areas: changing climate could require change of
plansFebruary 16th, 2012 in Space & Earth / Environment Marine
protected areas (MPAs) may turn out to be in the wrong place at
the wrong time. As a result of changing conditions, marine
species have been on the move with observed shifts of as much as
three kilometres per year over the past 50 years, and forecasts
of shifts of as much as 300 kilometres in the coming 50 years.
Decisions on where to put MPAs weren't always made with a
changing climate in mind. That has researchers asking how these
areasmeant to protect biodiversitycan stand the test of time.
Static MPAs, or limited areas, may not work as ocean conditions
change and as species shift their distribution in response to
climate change. These changes will require our design and
management of these ecologically rich zones to be more flexible,
and will require greater collaboration and foresight. At this
week's meeting of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science (AAAS) in Va