It is natural to want to return to normal from this pandemic. But before COVID-19, most MPAs lacked adequate funding to meet their goals, and way too many MPAs were paper parks. That was our normal. We need to build a new one.
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MPA News reported on Brijuni in 2014 and said it might be the most revenue-savvy MPA in the world, with multiple income streams. When COVID-19 happened and tourism slowed, Brijuni’s budget took a hit. MPA News returns to Brijuni to see how the MPA has responded, and what lessons it could provide on lowering costs, securing revenues, and rebuilding a tourism base.
Even before COVID, the MPA field was in need of new ideas and tools for financing. We highlight three new concepts, and how practitioners are exploring their possibilities.
This year amid the ongoing pandemic, MPA News has been compiling related resources for our readers. Here is our latest collection:
The 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) is confirmed for 23-29 June 2022 in Vancouver, Canada.
These recent articles on MPA-related science and policy are each free to access:
Several more nations commit to the 30x30 target
The target of protecting 30% of national and global waters by 2030 (30x30) continues to gain momentum, with a growing number of national governments making commitments to it:
The more fish an ecosystem contains, the more carbon is being captured and stored there. In this sense, MPAs could be viewed as an important management option for conserving and enhancing fish carbon services. Theoretically the financial value of well-managed ‘fish carbon’ could even be harnessed to support MPAs. Is there some way we can make this idea of fish carbon actually work as an MPA financing tool? We speak with several experts about the possibilities.
Low prices for blue carbon credits undermine "not only the MPA financing aim of blue carbon schemes, but also the climate change mitigation potential," writes Peter Jones of University College London.
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, MPA News is continuing to compile related resources for our readers. Here is our latest collection....