Identifying and Comparing Important Areas for Marine Sustainable Use and Conservation

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Background

The ocean is under increasing threat from the expansion of human activities. The combined impacts of these threats as well as the potential impacts of climate change and ocean acidification have placed thousands of species at risk of extinction, and have impaired the structure, function, productivity and resilience of marine ecosystems. Currently, some parts of the world's oceans are significantly impacted, yet are without any form of effective management. Only a small proportion of the oceans are within protected area systems. Globally, measures are being taken to increase protection and sustainable management, but application is uncoordinated and not always effective. In order to support effective policy action by countries and competent international and regional organizations, it is critical to build a sound understanding of the most ecologically and biologically important ocean areas that support healthy marine ecosystems so that the necessary steps to ensure the long-term function and resilience of these systems can be taken.

The goal of this Research Topic is to encourage studies that highlight methods, approaches, frameworks and experiences in designating and/or managing areas of special importance for marine biodiversity and ecosystems. We encourage submissions that address issues and experiences at the local, sub-national, national and global levels. Comparisons that examine the different approaches are also encouraged. The editorial board will produce a short synthesis of these papers that highlights the lessons learned and future research.

We are looking for research that addresses pertinent questions regarding approaches for identifying/designating areas of special importance for marine biodiversity and ecosystems and how these are managed through Marine Protected Areas or other forms of management. We would like to encourage the submission of manuscripts that address the processes for the identification/designation/establishment of important areas, efforts to manage and/or monitor these areas, evaluation of the effectiveness of designation and management efforts/approaches, also in view of ongoing environmental change, and comparative analyses across such processes.

Keywords: Marine animals, protected areas, biodiversity, conservation, biologically important areas

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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