Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key to conservation at sea, yet fishing is allowed in more than 90% of them. Defining the types of fishing that are compatible with conservation goals is urgent, given that the United Nations high seas treaty — a global accord with a mechanism for creating MPAs — comes into force in early 2026.
Beginning on 9 October, global leaders at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress must focus on ensuring that any fishing in MPAs is compatible with conservation goals.
Destructive fishing occurs in nearly one-third of areas listed as MPAs worldwide (E. P. Pike et al. Conserv. Lett. 17, E13020; 2024). Bottom trawling, a particularly destructive form, occurs in some 60% of European MPAs (M. Dureuil et al. Science 362, 1403–1407; 2018). The IUCN meeting provides the chance to close the gap between conservation objectives and actual practices. Any fishing that is allowed in MPAs must align with clear, evidence-based international standards to conserve marine biodiversity
Sullivan-Stack J., Estradivari , Pike E.P. and Stephenson F. (2025) Stop destructive fishing in marine protected areas. Nature 646(8084): 288-288. 10.1038/d41586-025-03277-0
@article{Sullivan-Stack2025,
Title = {Stop destructive fishing in marine protected areas},
Author = {Sullivan-Stack, Jenna and Estradivari and Pike, Elizabeth P. and Stephenson, Fabrice},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Nature},
Year = {2025},
Pages = {288-288},
Volume = {646},
Doi = {10.1038/d41586-025-03277-0},
Abstract = {Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key to conservation at sea, yet fishing is allowed in more than 90% of them. Defining the types of fishing that are compatible with conservation goals is urgent, given that the United Nations high seas treaty — a global accord with a mechanism for creating MPAs — comes into force in early 2026.
Beginning on 9 October, global leaders at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress must focus on ensuring that any fishing in MPAs is compatible with conservation goals.
Destructive fishing occurs in nearly one-third of areas listed as MPAs worldwide (E. P. Pike et al. Conserv. Lett. 17, E13020; 2024). Bottom trawling, a particularly destructive form, occurs in some 60% of European MPAs (M. Dureuil et al. Science 362, 1403–1407; 2018). The IUCN meeting provides the chance to close the gap between conservation objectives and actual practices. Any fishing that is allowed in MPAs must align with clear, evidence-based international standards to conserve marine biodiversity},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Sullivan-Stack, Jenna
AU - Estradivari
AU - Pike, Elizabeth P.
AU - Stephenson, Fabrice
TI - Stop destructive fishing in marine protected areas
T2 - Nature
PY - 2025
SP - 288-288
VL - 646
DO - 10.1038/d41586-025-03277-0
AB - Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key to conservation at sea, yet fishing is allowed in more than 90% of them. Defining the types of fishing that are compatible with conservation goals is urgent, given that the United Nations high seas treaty — a global accord with a mechanism for creating MPAs — comes into force in early 2026.
Beginning on 9 October, global leaders at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress must focus on ensuring that any fishing in MPAs is compatible with conservation goals.
Destructive fishing occurs in nearly one-third of areas listed as MPAs worldwide (E. P. Pike et al. Conserv. Lett. 17, E13020; 2024). Bottom trawling, a particularly destructive form, occurs in some 60% of European MPAs (M. Dureuil et al. Science 362, 1403–1407; 2018). The IUCN meeting provides the chance to close the gap between conservation objectives and actual practices. Any fishing that is allowed in MPAs must align with clear, evidence-based international standards to conserve marine biodiversity
ER -
