The concept of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) is one that can take many forms. The nature of a reserve can vary according to the differing demands of different nations or regions. At present, there are more than 2000 MPAs in the world, of which the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia is one of the most famous examples.
「海洋保護區」（Marine Protected Areas，簡稱 MPA）是一個總體概念，可以依據各國和各地方需求而有不同的型態表現；目前全世界有兩千多個海洋保護區，澳洲的「大堡礁海洋公園」就是其中最著名的例子。