Summer2019_AlertDiver

As you descend through the water column, the underwater world surrounds you. While you might see waving columns of kelp or colorful coral reefs, you won’t see lines demarcating boundaries between the open ocean and safeguarded places called marine protected areas (MPAs). This protection makes a difference for the long-term health of the marine resources that divers love and the broader ocean ecosystems of which they are a part. The MPA landscape is diverse in the United States: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports there are more than 1,200 MPAs as defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with most areas managed by federal, tribal, territorial, state or local agencies. This unique management framework allows each MPA to be specially tailored to address local challenges. Safeguarding a range of marine environments across a broad swath of U.S. waters, MPAs provide a system of protection that allows for ecological connectivity. Many species use multiple habitats and geographic areas throughout their lives; MPAs ensure that areas important to these species are protected regardless of the animals’ life stage or seasonal need. Increasingly necessary as species move in response to changing ocean temperatures, the MPA network provides corridors to new habitats and supports the species in new locations. While the primary function of MPAs is to conserve marine resources, most of them allow some level of public access. Despite common misconceptions, nonconsumptive activities such as diving are typically welcome. The following information describes a few different types of MPAs from around the country that offer a variety of opportunities for divers. 88 | SUMMER 2019 By Samantha Brooke, Zachary Cannizzo and Eva DiDonato Dive into anMPA JP ZEGARRA

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