Feb. 28, 2025
Are all protected areas in the ocean equal? A study on the bonus species protection
Are OECMs (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures) just as effective as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in protecting biodiversity? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we break down the differences, benefits, and challenges of OECMs,...
Are OECMs (Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures) just as effective as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in protecting biodiversity? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we break down the differences, benefits, and challenges of OECMs, particularly in Canada’s conservation strategy. Learn how fisheries closures and Indigenous-led conservation initiatives contribute to marine biodiversity and whether they should be counted toward Canada’s 30x30 target.
🔹 What are OECMs, and how do they compare to MPAs?
🔹 Can fisheries closures serve as effective conservation tools?
🔹 How do OECMs support Canada’s marine biodiversity targets?
Tune in to explore how these conservation measures fit into global marine protection efforts.
#OECMs #MarineProtectedAreas #Biodiversity #OceanConservation #SustainableFishing #30x30 #FisheriesManagement #ClimateAction #MarineEcosystems #Oceans #ConservationScience #MPAs #SustainableOceans
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Transcript
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How important are protected areas?
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That's what we're gonna
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talk about on today's episode
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of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast,
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because there's been a
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new study that came out
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talking about certain protected areas
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that are better than others,
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that have unintended positive impacts
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on a specific area that's protected
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that is beyond what is protected for.
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We're gonna talk about
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all this on this episode
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of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast.
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Let's start the show.
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(upbeat music)
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Hey everybody, welcome back
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to another exciting episode
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of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast.
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I'm your host, Andrew Lewin,
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and this is the
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podcast where you find out
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what's happening with the ocean,
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how you can speak up for the ocean,
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and what you can do to
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live for a better ocean
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by taking action.
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And on today's episode,
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we're gonna be talking
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about protected areas,
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one of my favorite topics,
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because if you don't know me by now,
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I have a master's in
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looking at marine protected areas
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on the East Coast of Nova Scotia,
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which is where this
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study kind of talks about,
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not necessarily Nova Scotia,
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but in the Gulf of St.
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Lawrence, in the St. Lawrence area.
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We looked at this study called
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Assessing Indirect Biodiversity
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Conservation Benefits
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of Fisheries Closures in the
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Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada,
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talks about protected areas
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and how some protected areas
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have an alternative benefit
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to them, even though it
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wasn't the primary role
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that they were protected for.
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We're gonna talk all
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about protected areas,
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not to worry, just wanna introduce that.
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But if you're new to ocean conservation
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and you wanna know how to
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protect the ocean further,
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you can see more of these episodes
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on your favorite podcast app.
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If you're listening
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to this or on YouTube,
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if you wanna listen to this,
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you can just go down onto this channel
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and you'll be able to
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see all the other episodes,
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or you can go over to SpeakUpForBlue.com,
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where we have all the things that are
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pertaining to the ocean,
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and you can just go
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over SpeakUpForBlue.com.
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And if you want a
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newsletter with all ocean news,
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audio podcast out for you,
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all you have to do is go to
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Friday, 8 a.m. Eastern.
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All right, let's get into the episode.
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Look, protected areas are important.
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We know that protected areas
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protect and keep biodiversity
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and fisheries intact.
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That's what it's best for.
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And what it is
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essentially is an area in the ocean
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that has these sort of translucent
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imaginary boundaries
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because there's nothing physical
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that's stopping people from being there,
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but it's a designated area that takes
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away a specific thing.
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So a specific
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normally extractive process.
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So you can't drill oil and gas.
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You can't use fishery.
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You can't fish in the area,
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commercial or recreational.
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Sometimes people can't go there for
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recreational purposes.
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And there's some that are Marine reserves
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where you can't do anything at all.
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Not even scientific research.
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There are Marine protected
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areas all over the world.
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And there are different definitions on
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specific protected areas.
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The ones that we're going to be talking
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about today are called other effective
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area based conservation
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measures, also known as OECMs.
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Look, scientists, we love our acronyms.
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So this one is OECMs.
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You're going to notice as
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an other protected area.
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It's an effective area
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based conservation measure.
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Okay. But we have also
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Marine protected areas, MPAs.
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And the biggest difference between those
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is OECMs are areas that achieve
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conservation outcomes
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as a byproduct of other
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management objectives.
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So if the original management objective
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was fisheries closures,
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well then biodiversity is protected
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because of those fisheries closures.
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And we're going to talk
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about that on today's episode,
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because that's the subject really that
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we're talking about.
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MPAs are legally designated to protect
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Marine biodiversity and
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ecosystems as a primary goal.
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So right off the bat,
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that's what they're doing.
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Okay. The main purpose of an OECM is not
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necessarily to
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establish for conservation,
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but provide incidental
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biodiversity protection.
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So they could be a fisheries closure or
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it could be an indigenous managed area.
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Okay. Or it could be something that's
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culturally significant,
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like a boat that sank a while ago and is
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historically important to people.
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For MPAs, the main purpose is
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specifically created to protect marine
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habitats, species and ecosystems under
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formal conservation laws.
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These are MPAs, you cannot go in them
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like OECMs, other effective area based
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conservation measures.
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These are for other purposes, but they
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have a byproduct impact,
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which is a great impact.
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Okay. So let's look at this study.
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This is a great study is
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on PLS01, which we love.
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You can say plus one.
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I'd say PLS01.
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This is one of the
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journals that is open access.
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It's available to everybody.
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And what this article on PLS01 did was
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how these OECMs contribute to
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biodiversity conservation beyond their
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primary objective of
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protecting target areas.
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The study focuses 11 OECMs in the Gulf of
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St. Lawrence, Canada, and assesses their
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indirect benefits to commercial and
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ecologically important species.
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So here's some of the
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key points and findings.
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So the background on OECMs and
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conservation goals is that this is where
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the OECMs are areas where biodiversity
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conservation occurs as a byproduct.
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Right. We talked about this of management
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activities rather than the primary
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objective, which is like a marine
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protected area or things like that.
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The study examines whether OECMs
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originally established for fisheries
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management also provide indirect benefits
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by protecting critical habitats for other
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species, therefore
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maintaining biodiversity.
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So the Gulf of St. Lawrence is a highly
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productive marine ecosystem with
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important commercial fisheries and making
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a relevant area for this assessment.
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So here's what they looked at.
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They looked at a spatial
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analysis overlap, right?
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So they looked at how to evaluate whether
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these OECMs coincided with important
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habitats such as spawning or juvenile
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habitats of Atlantic halibut, Greenland
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halibut and redfish.
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Three key fish species
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that are in these areas.
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The study used species distribution
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models and habitat suitability maps to
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determine if closures overlapped with
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essential fish habitat.
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So this is really important because when
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you have these fisheries management
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areas, these are areas that they close
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down for certain times of the year or all
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year round, depending on the OECM.
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And they are there to protect these fish.
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That's what they're there to
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do for that fishing purpose.
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So it could be for Atlantic halibut,
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Greenland halibut and redfish or just one
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of those species or
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just two of those species.
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It depends on the area.
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There's 11 of them.
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They all have different criteria.
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Now, if there are special areas for other
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species beyond the three or even for
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others, so say that one area is protected
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for Atlantic halibut, but there are
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Greenland halibut there in the area
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that's a spawning area or juvenile
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habitat that's within those boundaries
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that will also be protected.
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Almost like an umbrella species that we
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talk about in conservation.
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So when you have an umbrella species like
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a whale, you protect that whale and you
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protect everything that's under that
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whale, all the habitat that's below that.
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Well, you're doing the same thing.
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You have this fisheries management
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closure in this specific area and
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everything that's found underneath is a
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bonus protection, right?
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So if it's a spawning area, it's bonus.
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If it's an overlapping juvenile habitat
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area, that's bonus too, because you're
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protecting the other species that are in
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the area and that's always helpful.
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So that's what we're talking about here
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when we talk about what's overlapped with
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this potential areas, the OECMs.
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That's a big thing.
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So the main find is eight out of the 11
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OECMs overlapped with
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potential spawning habitats.
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How do they know this?
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I talked about it
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earlier, habitat suitability map.
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So what we're looking at is what is good
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for like we have all these three species.
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What do they like?
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What type of habitats do they like?
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We kind of have these
266
00:07:15,333 --> 00:07:16,791
criteria that we look at.
267
00:07:16,791 --> 00:07:17,583
We look at depth.
268
00:07:17,583 --> 00:07:18,458
We look at substrate.
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00:07:18,666 --> 00:07:20,166
We look at salinity.
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We look at temperature.
271
00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:23,041
And if those vary within the Gulf of
272
00:07:23,041 --> 00:07:25,458
Mexico, which they usually do, then we
273
00:07:25,458 --> 00:07:26,375
look at these special
274
00:07:26,375 --> 00:07:27,958
areas and what is found there.
275
00:07:27,958 --> 00:07:29,583
And we just correlate those together.
276
00:07:29,958 --> 00:07:31,500
And if those species are found there over
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00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:33,083
and over and over again, year after year
278
00:07:33,083 --> 00:07:33,958
after year, then we
279
00:07:33,958 --> 00:07:34,708
say, Hey, you know what?
280
00:07:34,708 --> 00:07:36,708
They may like this area so much that if
281
00:07:36,708 --> 00:07:38,750
there's another area around there, that
282
00:07:38,750 --> 00:07:40,166
might be another important area.
283
00:07:40,166 --> 00:07:41,958
So some of these suitability maps were
284
00:07:41,958 --> 00:07:44,708
used to identify specific areas that may
285
00:07:44,708 --> 00:07:46,291
be good for another species.
286
00:07:46,458 --> 00:07:47,458
And that's how these
287
00:07:47,458 --> 00:07:48,750
suitability maps are used.
288
00:07:48,750 --> 00:07:49,083
Okay.
289
00:07:49,083 --> 00:07:51,333
So the findings suggest that despite
290
00:07:51,333 --> 00:07:52,666
their original purpose, which is
291
00:07:52,666 --> 00:07:54,375
protecting certain species like snow
292
00:07:54,375 --> 00:07:56,583
crab, so not even Atlantic halibut,
293
00:07:56,583 --> 00:07:59,416
Greenland halibut or redfish, the OECMs
294
00:07:59,416 --> 00:08:01,958
may have unintended conservation benefits
295
00:08:01,958 --> 00:08:03,666
for other marine species.
296
00:08:03,958 --> 00:08:05,416
The study highlights the value of
297
00:08:05,416 --> 00:08:07,166
integrating fisheries management with
298
00:08:07,166 --> 00:08:09,000
conservation objectives, demonstrating
299
00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,708
that a well-placed fisheries closure can
300
00:08:11,708 --> 00:08:12,666
contribute to a broader
301
00:08:12,666 --> 00:08:13,916
biodiversity protection.
302
00:08:14,416 --> 00:08:15,916
And the authors recommend considering
303
00:08:15,916 --> 00:08:18,000
using indirect conservation benefits when
304
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:18,833
evaluating these
305
00:08:18,833 --> 00:08:20,583
effectiveness of the OECM.
306
00:08:20,583 --> 00:08:22,666
So this is what happens is we always want
307
00:08:22,666 --> 00:08:23,708
marine protected areas
308
00:08:23,708 --> 00:08:25,208
because those are legally binding.
309
00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:26,625
For Canada, especially when we talk about
310
00:08:26,625 --> 00:08:28,333
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, this is a Gulf
311
00:08:28,333 --> 00:08:30,500
that is enshrined in Canadian waters.
312
00:08:31,041 --> 00:08:31,791
And so we want to make
313
00:08:31,791 --> 00:08:33,000
sure that we protect these.
314
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:33,916
So marine protected areas
315
00:08:33,916 --> 00:08:34,875
are probably your benefit.
316
00:08:35,125 --> 00:08:36,791
But then you have OECMs.
317
00:08:36,791 --> 00:08:38,500
These other protected areas that have
318
00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:40,833
unintended impacts, like positive impacts
319
00:08:40,833 --> 00:08:42,500
on other species, there may not be
320
00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:43,958
completely legally binding,
321
00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,416
but they're important because if you
322
00:08:45,416 --> 00:08:46,958
protect them from fisheries, you're
323
00:08:46,958 --> 00:08:48,375
probably protecting whatever habitat
324
00:08:48,375 --> 00:08:49,416
that's under there, whether it's a
325
00:08:49,416 --> 00:08:51,083
spawning habitat or something else.
326
00:08:51,541 --> 00:08:53,333
So having these in your conservation
327
00:08:53,333 --> 00:08:54,500
strategy might be best.
328
00:08:54,750 --> 00:08:56,708
You may not be able to get an MPA status,
329
00:08:57,041 --> 00:09:00,458
but you could get an OECM status and then
330
00:09:00,458 --> 00:09:01,916
protect everything that's underneath
331
00:09:01,916 --> 00:09:03,541
that, which may even
332
00:09:03,541 --> 00:09:04,916
say, hey, you know what?
333
00:09:04,916 --> 00:09:07,000
We should make these OECMs even bigger
334
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,208
because we can include more habitats that
335
00:09:09,208 --> 00:09:09,875
we didn't know that
336
00:09:09,875 --> 00:09:10,625
were there beforehand.
337
00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,041
So when you go into these OECMs, you're
338
00:09:13,041 --> 00:09:14,125
like, this is a fisheries closure.
339
00:09:14,583 --> 00:09:16,125
What else can we protect under here?
340
00:09:16,416 --> 00:09:18,166
How can we design these boundaries that
341
00:09:18,166 --> 00:09:19,625
will actually protect everything?
342
00:09:19,875 --> 00:09:21,833
And when you protect biodiversity, it's
343
00:09:21,833 --> 00:09:23,291
really important because biodiversity
344
00:09:23,291 --> 00:09:25,125
means stability of the
345
00:09:25,125 --> 00:09:26,791
ocean in that particular area.
346
00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,166
If you don't have high biodiversity, you
347
00:09:29,166 --> 00:09:30,458
don't have great stability.
348
00:09:30,791 --> 00:09:32,125
And that can change a system that can
349
00:09:32,125 --> 00:09:33,583
flip a system into something that's
350
00:09:33,583 --> 00:09:35,541
different that can affect fisheries, that
351
00:09:35,541 --> 00:09:37,416
can affect tourism, that can affect just
352
00:09:37,416 --> 00:09:39,583
the overall health of the ocean and the
353
00:09:39,583 --> 00:09:40,666
quality of the ocean.
354
00:09:40,708 --> 00:09:42,250
So for instance, if you think of a coral
355
00:09:42,250 --> 00:09:45,041
reef, if you lose a lot of algae eating
356
00:09:45,041 --> 00:09:47,333
fish that keep algae off the corals, then
357
00:09:47,333 --> 00:09:49,833
you can lose a lot of those corals based
358
00:09:49,833 --> 00:09:52,083
on algae growth and increased sunlight,
359
00:09:52,083 --> 00:09:53,291
increased sea surface temperature.
360
00:09:53,708 --> 00:09:54,875
And then the diversity is going to
361
00:09:54,875 --> 00:09:56,416
decrease because there's not going to be
362
00:09:56,416 --> 00:09:58,583
a coral reef in that area because the
363
00:09:58,583 --> 00:09:59,625
fish just disappear.
364
00:10:00,125 --> 00:10:02,125
The coral reefs can't stop the algae from
365
00:10:02,125 --> 00:10:03,541
overgrowing and all the other fish that
366
00:10:03,541 --> 00:10:06,000
depend on these corals to live and for
367
00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,166
hiding spots and everything, they just
368
00:10:07,166 --> 00:10:08,708
don't have anything to be there for.
369
00:10:08,750 --> 00:10:10,500
So you get eaten or they leave or they
370
00:10:10,500 --> 00:10:11,791
die off and nothing these
371
00:10:11,791 --> 00:10:13,083
species don't want to be there.
372
00:10:13,083 --> 00:10:15,583
So you get this degradation of a habitat.
373
00:10:15,583 --> 00:10:16,541
So I'm talking about the
374
00:10:16,541 --> 00:10:18,375
health of an actual habitat.
375
00:10:18,666 --> 00:10:20,875
So what we wanted to look at is how can
376
00:10:20,875 --> 00:10:22,333
we put this into marine
377
00:10:22,333 --> 00:10:23,750
conservation and policies?
378
00:10:23,750 --> 00:10:25,291
This study supports the growing
379
00:10:25,291 --> 00:10:27,541
recognition that OECMs are an important
380
00:10:27,541 --> 00:10:29,375
conservation tool that can complement
381
00:10:29,375 --> 00:10:30,666
marine protected areas.
382
00:10:30,666 --> 00:10:31,583
They don't always have to
383
00:10:31,583 --> 00:10:32,625
be marine protected areas.
384
00:10:32,625 --> 00:10:33,666
To get a marine protected area
385
00:10:33,666 --> 00:10:35,958
established in Canada or even the world,
386
00:10:35,958 --> 00:10:37,041
it is very difficult.
387
00:10:37,083 --> 00:10:38,208
It takes a long time.
388
00:10:38,208 --> 00:10:40,250
It has to go through a specific process.
389
00:10:40,791 --> 00:10:42,833
It could be very, very long before you
390
00:10:42,833 --> 00:10:44,208
can get an MPA status.
391
00:10:44,666 --> 00:10:46,208
And sometimes you may not be able to get
392
00:10:46,208 --> 00:10:47,625
it in time to protect what
393
00:10:47,625 --> 00:10:48,458
you're trying to protect.
394
00:10:48,916 --> 00:10:50,708
It also suggests that OECM should be
395
00:10:50,708 --> 00:10:51,708
formally recognized in
396
00:10:51,708 --> 00:10:52,750
conservation strategies.
397
00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,000
I think this is something that's not
398
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,333
taking as seriously as we hope and as
399
00:10:56,333 --> 00:10:57,500
they can contribute to the international
400
00:10:57,500 --> 00:10:59,500
biodiversity targets such as a convention
401
00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:00,250
of biological
402
00:11:00,250 --> 00:11:02,666
diversity's 30 by 30 target.
403
00:11:02,666 --> 00:11:04,125
Now, here's where we have to be careful.
404
00:11:04,416 --> 00:11:06,375
We want MPAs because MPAs under the
405
00:11:06,375 --> 00:11:07,333
definition have no
406
00:11:07,333 --> 00:11:09,583
extractive processes in the MPA.
407
00:11:09,958 --> 00:11:11,500
OECMs have something different.
408
00:11:11,916 --> 00:11:13,125
They may be closed for fisheries
409
00:11:13,125 --> 00:11:14,250
management, but they may be
410
00:11:14,250 --> 00:11:16,083
open to oil and gas drilling.
411
00:11:16,083 --> 00:11:17,333
We don't know or mining.
412
00:11:17,666 --> 00:11:19,041
We have no idea, right?
413
00:11:19,041 --> 00:11:20,708
So there can be other things
414
00:11:20,708 --> 00:11:22,458
that happen within that area.
415
00:11:22,916 --> 00:11:25,333
But an MPA under the definition, IUCN
416
00:11:25,333 --> 00:11:26,875
definition is like, don't touch.
417
00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:27,708
That's it.
418
00:11:27,958 --> 00:11:29,541
We are not touching it at all.
419
00:11:29,541 --> 00:11:30,458
Nobody can do anything.
420
00:11:30,458 --> 00:11:31,500
Nothing extractive.
421
00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:32,333
Don't even go in there.
422
00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:34,666
So we have to be careful when we start
423
00:11:34,666 --> 00:11:36,291
proposing that these OECMs be a part of
424
00:11:36,291 --> 00:11:38,750
the strategy because this is where we
425
00:11:38,750 --> 00:11:40,833
were at before the MPA strategy used to
426
00:11:40,833 --> 00:11:42,125
be that you can still drill
427
00:11:42,125 --> 00:11:43,833
for oil if they so desired.
428
00:11:43,833 --> 00:11:45,166
If the companies that had those leases so
429
00:11:45,166 --> 00:11:47,208
desired now that's frowned upon.
430
00:11:47,208 --> 00:11:47,791
You don't do that.
431
00:11:47,791 --> 00:11:49,083
I don't think you can even do that.
432
00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:51,458
When you go to look at OECMs, you can do
433
00:11:51,458 --> 00:11:52,833
other extractive processes, which are
434
00:11:52,833 --> 00:11:55,583
pretty much not be good for that OECM.
435
00:11:55,791 --> 00:11:57,333
So we do have to be careful with that.
436
00:11:57,500 --> 00:11:59,041
But policymakers should adopt a more
437
00:11:59,041 --> 00:12:00,625
holistic approach when assessing
438
00:12:00,625 --> 00:12:01,541
conservation effectiveness.
439
00:12:01,791 --> 00:12:04,041
So not just MPAs, look at OECMs and look
440
00:12:04,041 --> 00:12:05,083
at what else they're protecting,
441
00:12:05,458 --> 00:12:07,416
considering not only direct protections,
442
00:12:07,416 --> 00:12:09,958
but also indirect ecosystem benefits.
443
00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:11,458
Essentially, what we're talking about
444
00:12:11,458 --> 00:12:13,416
here is that fisheries closures within
445
00:12:13,416 --> 00:12:15,625
OECM can have a significant biodiversity
446
00:12:15,625 --> 00:12:18,125
benefits beyond their initial goals,
447
00:12:18,583 --> 00:12:20,666
reinforcing the needs to integrate OECMs
448
00:12:20,666 --> 00:12:22,500
into broader conservation planning.
449
00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:23,500
That's what this study says.
450
00:12:23,750 --> 00:12:25,250
I don't completely agree with it, but you
451
00:12:25,250 --> 00:12:26,041
can never go wrong with
452
00:12:26,041 --> 00:12:27,083
another protected area.
453
00:12:27,333 --> 00:12:28,958
It underscores the importance of spatial
454
00:12:28,958 --> 00:12:30,125
planning in marine ecosystems.
455
00:12:30,375 --> 00:12:32,375
Spatial planning essentially is taking a
456
00:12:32,375 --> 00:12:33,416
business plan and
457
00:12:33,416 --> 00:12:34,625
putting it into the ocean.
458
00:12:34,625 --> 00:12:36,375
It's what we do on land all the time.
459
00:12:36,375 --> 00:12:37,416
We have green zones.
460
00:12:37,416 --> 00:12:38,333
We have industrial zones.
461
00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:39,333
We have residential areas.
462
00:12:39,541 --> 00:12:40,750
It's all spatially planned.
463
00:12:41,041 --> 00:12:42,875
We should do that with the ocean with the
464
00:12:42,875 --> 00:12:44,666
amount of different users we have oil and
465
00:12:44,666 --> 00:12:47,041
gas, recreation, commercial fishing and
466
00:12:47,041 --> 00:12:47,666
other commercial like
467
00:12:47,666 --> 00:12:48,500
shipping and so forth.
468
00:12:48,916 --> 00:12:51,708
So many conflicting uses that we need to
469
00:12:51,708 --> 00:12:53,166
plan that all out to make sure that
470
00:12:53,166 --> 00:12:53,875
certain areas are
471
00:12:53,875 --> 00:12:55,333
designated for certain things.
472
00:12:55,333 --> 00:12:56,291
That's what we want to do.
473
00:12:56,291 --> 00:12:57,750
But it's basically that kind of plan.
474
00:12:58,083 --> 00:12:59,625
So it underscores the importance of
475
00:12:59,625 --> 00:13:01,250
spatial planning and marine ecosystems
476
00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:03,333
and the need for adaptive management
477
00:13:03,333 --> 00:13:04,791
approaches that can recognize the
478
00:13:04,791 --> 00:13:05,875
multiple benefits of
479
00:13:05,875 --> 00:13:07,125
area based protections.
480
00:13:07,625 --> 00:13:09,750
Adaptive management is the key to
481
00:13:09,750 --> 00:13:10,833
figuring out management
482
00:13:10,833 --> 00:13:12,166
now and in the future.
483
00:13:12,416 --> 00:13:12,958
Adaptive management is
484
00:13:12,958 --> 00:13:14,500
essentially what it sounds like.
485
00:13:14,791 --> 00:13:16,833
You adapt to what happens in that area.
486
00:13:16,833 --> 00:13:18,958
If something changes or the water quality
487
00:13:18,958 --> 00:13:20,500
changes or the sea surface temperature
488
00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:23,166
changes or something else happens, then
489
00:13:23,166 --> 00:13:24,833
you have to adapt to that and you have to
490
00:13:24,833 --> 00:13:27,041
adapt your policies to match what's
491
00:13:27,041 --> 00:13:27,666
happening to a future.
492
00:13:27,791 --> 00:13:28,250
So you have to
493
00:13:28,250 --> 00:13:29,583
effectively manage that area.
494
00:13:29,583 --> 00:13:30,875
So that's essentially what it is.
495
00:13:30,875 --> 00:13:32,666
It's just every year, every five years
496
00:13:32,666 --> 00:13:34,625
you look back and say, what's changed and
497
00:13:34,625 --> 00:13:35,625
do we need to change our
498
00:13:35,625 --> 00:13:37,458
policies in regards to that?
499
00:13:37,458 --> 00:13:38,708
That's essentially the episode.
500
00:13:39,041 --> 00:13:39,875
It's a pretty cool study.
501
00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:41,416
I really like what I read on there.
502
00:13:41,666 --> 00:13:43,166
I'll put the link in the show notes so
503
00:13:43,166 --> 00:13:44,375
you can get access to that.
504
00:13:44,583 --> 00:13:46,000
But if you have any questions or comments
505
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,500
on this, I would love to hear from you.
506
00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:49,625
You can hit me up on Instagram DM me at
507
00:13:49,625 --> 00:13:50,916
how to protect the ocean.
508
00:13:50,916 --> 00:13:52,750
That's at how to protect the ocean.
509
00:13:52,750 --> 00:13:54,166
And don't forget to subscribe and hit
510
00:13:54,166 --> 00:13:55,458
that notification bell if
511
00:13:55,458 --> 00:13:56,375
you're watching this on YouTube.
512
00:13:56,458 --> 00:13:57,666
And if you're not going over, you could
513
00:13:57,666 --> 00:13:58,958
see my pretty little face.
514
00:13:59,208 --> 00:13:59,708
I'm just kidding.
515
00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,083
But yeah, you can go there on YouTube.
516
00:14:01,083 --> 00:14:02,750
You can also see the video on Spotify and
517
00:14:02,750 --> 00:14:04,208
listen to the audio on Spotify.
518
00:14:04,625 --> 00:14:05,708
And of course, listen to the audio on
519
00:14:05,708 --> 00:14:06,916
your favorite podcast app.
520
00:14:07,208 --> 00:14:09,000
I want to thank you and don't forget you
521
00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,458
can go to speak up for blue.com to get
522
00:14:10,458 --> 00:14:11,333
access to all of that.
523
00:14:11,541 --> 00:14:13,708
The videos, the audio, whatever you need.
524
00:14:13,916 --> 00:14:15,291
Go to speak up from blue.com.
525
00:14:15,583 --> 00:14:16,583
And I want to thank you so much for
526
00:14:16,583 --> 00:14:18,000
joining me on today's episode of the how
527
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,083
to protect the ocean podcast.
528
00:14:19,083 --> 00:14:20,541
I'm your host, Andrew Lewin from the true
529
00:14:20,541 --> 00:14:21,500
North strong and free.
530
00:14:21,875 --> 00:14:22,458
Have a great day.
531
00:14:22,458 --> 00:14:23,000
We'll talk to you next
532
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,041
time and happy conservation.
00:00:00,625 --> 00:00:02,666
How important are protected areas?
2
00:00:02,666 --> 00:00:03,083
That's what we're gonna
3
00:00:03,083 --> 00:00:04,125
talk about on today's episode
4
00:00:04,125 --> 00:00:05,541
of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast,
5
00:00:05,791 --> 00:00:06,458
because there's been a
6
00:00:06,458 --> 00:00:07,458
new study that came out
7
00:00:07,541 --> 00:00:09,458
talking about certain protected areas
8
00:00:09,458 --> 00:00:10,625
that are better than others,
9
00:00:10,958 --> 00:00:13,000
that have unintended positive impacts
10
00:00:13,458 --> 00:00:15,083
on a specific area that's protected
11
00:00:15,083 --> 00:00:17,333
that is beyond what is protected for.
12
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We're gonna talk about
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all this on this episode
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of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast.
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Let's start the show.
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(upbeat music)
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Hey everybody, welcome back
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to another exciting episode
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of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast.
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I'm your host, Andrew Lewin,
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and this is the
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podcast where you find out
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what's happening with the ocean,
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how you can speak up for the ocean,
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and what you can do to
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live for a better ocean
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by taking action.
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And on today's episode,
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we're gonna be talking
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about protected areas,
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one of my favorite topics,
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because if you don't know me by now,
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I have a master's in
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looking at marine protected areas
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on the East Coast of Nova Scotia,
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which is where this
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study kind of talks about,
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not necessarily Nova Scotia,
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but in the Gulf of St.
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Lawrence, in the St. Lawrence area.
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We looked at this study called
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Assessing Indirect Biodiversity
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Conservation Benefits
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of Fisheries Closures in the
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Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada,
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talks about protected areas
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and how some protected areas
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have an alternative benefit
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to them, even though it
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wasn't the primary role
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that they were protected for.
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We're gonna talk all
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about protected areas,
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not to worry, just wanna introduce that.
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But if you're new to ocean conservation
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and you wanna know how to
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protect the ocean further,
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you can see more of these episodes
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on your favorite podcast app.
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If you're listening
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to this or on YouTube,
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if you wanna listen to this,
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you can just go down onto this channel
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and you'll be able to
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see all the other episodes,
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or you can go over to SpeakUpForBlue.com,
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where we have all the things that are
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pertaining to the ocean,
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and you can just go
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over SpeakUpForBlue.com.
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And if you want a
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newsletter with all ocean news,
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ocean jobs, and the latest podcast out,
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a video podcast or
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audio podcast out for you,
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all you have to do is go to
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SpeakUpForBlue.com forward slash
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newsletter to sign up for the newsletter
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and get it to your inbox Monday to
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Friday, 8 a.m. Eastern.
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All right, let's get into the episode.
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Look, protected areas are important.
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We know that protected areas
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protect and keep biodiversity
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and fisheries intact.
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That's what it's best for.
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And what it is
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essentially is an area in the ocean
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that has these sort of translucent
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imaginary boundaries
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because there's nothing physical
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that's stopping people from being there,
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but it's a designated area that takes
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away a specific thing.
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So a specific
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normally extractive process.
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So you can't drill oil and gas.
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You can't use fishery.
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You can't fish in the area,
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commercial or recreational.
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Sometimes people can't go there for
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recreational purposes.
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And there's some that are Marine reserves
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where you can't do anything at all.
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Not even scientific research.
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There are Marine protected
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areas all over the world.
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And there are different definitions on
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specific protected areas.
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The ones that we're going to be talking
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about today are called other effective
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area based conservation
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measures, also known as OECMs.
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Look, scientists, we love our acronyms.
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So this one is OECMs.
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You're going to notice as
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an other protected area.
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It's an effective area
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based conservation measure.
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Okay. But we have also
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Marine protected areas, MPAs.
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And the biggest difference between those
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is OECMs are areas that achieve
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conservation outcomes
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as a byproduct of other
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management objectives.
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So if the original management objective
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was fisheries closures,
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well then biodiversity is protected
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because of those fisheries closures.
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And we're going to talk
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about that on today's episode,
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because that's the subject really that
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we're talking about.
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MPAs are legally designated to protect
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Marine biodiversity and
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ecosystems as a primary goal.
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So right off the bat,
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that's what they're doing.
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Okay. The main purpose of an OECM is not
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necessarily to
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establish for conservation,
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but provide incidental
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biodiversity protection.
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So they could be a fisheries closure or
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it could be an indigenous managed area.
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Okay. Or it could be something that's
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culturally significant,
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like a boat that sank a while ago and is
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historically important to people.
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For MPAs, the main purpose is
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specifically created to protect marine
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habitats, species and ecosystems under
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formal conservation laws.
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These are MPAs, you cannot go in them
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like OECMs, other effective area based
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conservation measures.
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These are for other purposes, but they
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have a byproduct impact,
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which is a great impact.
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Okay. So let's look at this study.
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This is a great study is
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on PLS01, which we love.
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You can say plus one.
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I'd say PLS01.
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This is one of the
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journals that is open access.
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It's available to everybody.
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And what this article on PLS01 did was
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how these OECMs contribute to
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biodiversity conservation beyond their
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primary objective of
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protecting target areas.
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The study focuses 11 OECMs in the Gulf of
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St. Lawrence, Canada, and assesses their
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indirect benefits to commercial and
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ecologically important species.
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So here's some of the
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key points and findings.
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So the background on OECMs and
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conservation goals is that this is where
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the OECMs are areas where biodiversity
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conservation occurs as a byproduct.
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Right. We talked about this of management
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activities rather than the primary
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objective, which is like a marine
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protected area or things like that.
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The study examines whether OECMs
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originally established for fisheries
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management also provide indirect benefits
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by protecting critical habitats for other
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species, therefore
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maintaining biodiversity.
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So the Gulf of St. Lawrence is a highly
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productive marine ecosystem with
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important commercial fisheries and making
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a relevant area for this assessment.
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So here's what they looked at.
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They looked at a spatial
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analysis overlap, right?
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So they looked at how to evaluate whether
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these OECMs coincided with important
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habitats such as spawning or juvenile
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habitats of Atlantic halibut, Greenland
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halibut and redfish.
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Three key fish species
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that are in these areas.
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The study used species distribution
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models and habitat suitability maps to
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determine if closures overlapped with
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essential fish habitat.
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So this is really important because when
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you have these fisheries management
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areas, these are areas that they close
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down for certain times of the year or all
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year round, depending on the OECM.
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And they are there to protect these fish.
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That's what they're there to
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do for that fishing purpose.
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So it could be for Atlantic halibut,
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Greenland halibut and redfish or just one
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of those species or
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just two of those species.
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It depends on the area.
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There's 11 of them.
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They all have different criteria.
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Now, if there are special areas for other
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species beyond the three or even for
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others, so say that one area is protected
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for Atlantic halibut, but there are
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Greenland halibut there in the area
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that's a spawning area or juvenile
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habitat that's within those boundaries
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that will also be protected.
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Almost like an umbrella species that we
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talk about in conservation.
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So when you have an umbrella species like
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a whale, you protect that whale and you
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protect everything that's under that
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whale, all the habitat that's below that.
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Well, you're doing the same thing.
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You have this fisheries management
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closure in this specific area and
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everything that's found underneath is a
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bonus protection, right?
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So if it's a spawning area, it's bonus.
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If it's an overlapping juvenile habitat
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area, that's bonus too, because you're
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protecting the other species that are in
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the area and that's always helpful.
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So that's what we're talking about here
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when we talk about what's overlapped with
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this potential areas, the OECMs.
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That's a big thing.
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So the main find is eight out of the 11
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OECMs overlapped with
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potential spawning habitats.
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How do they know this?
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I talked about it
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earlier, habitat suitability map.
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So what we're looking at is what is good
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for like we have all these three species.
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What do they like?
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What type of habitats do they like?
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We kind of have these
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criteria that we look at.
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We look at depth.
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We look at substrate.
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We look at salinity.
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We look at temperature.
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And if those vary within the Gulf of
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Mexico, which they usually do, then we
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look at these special
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areas and what is found there.
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And we just correlate those together.
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And if those species are found there over
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and over and over again, year after year
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after year, then we
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say, Hey, you know what?
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They may like this area so much that if
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there's another area around there, that
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might be another important area.
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So some of these suitability maps were
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used to identify specific areas that may
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be good for another species.
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And that's how these
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suitability maps are used.
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Okay.
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So the findings suggest that despite
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their original purpose, which is
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protecting certain species like snow
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crab, so not even Atlantic halibut,
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Greenland halibut or redfish, the OECMs
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may have unintended conservation benefits
295
00:08:01,958 --> 00:08:03,666
for other marine species.
296
00:08:03,958 --> 00:08:05,416
The study highlights the value of
297
00:08:05,416 --> 00:08:07,166
integrating fisheries management with
298
00:08:07,166 --> 00:08:09,000
conservation objectives, demonstrating
299
00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,708
that a well-placed fisheries closure can
300
00:08:11,708 --> 00:08:12,666
contribute to a broader
301
00:08:12,666 --> 00:08:13,916
biodiversity protection.
302
00:08:14,416 --> 00:08:15,916
And the authors recommend considering
303
00:08:15,916 --> 00:08:18,000
using indirect conservation benefits when
304
00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:18,833
evaluating these
305
00:08:18,833 --> 00:08:20,583
effectiveness of the OECM.
306
00:08:20,583 --> 00:08:22,666
So this is what happens is we always want
307
00:08:22,666 --> 00:08:23,708
marine protected areas
308
00:08:23,708 --> 00:08:25,208
because those are legally binding.
309
00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:26,625
For Canada, especially when we talk about
310
00:08:26,625 --> 00:08:28,333
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, this is a Gulf
311
00:08:28,333 --> 00:08:30,500
that is enshrined in Canadian waters.
312
00:08:31,041 --> 00:08:31,791
And so we want to make
313
00:08:31,791 --> 00:08:33,000
sure that we protect these.
314
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:33,916
So marine protected areas
315
00:08:33,916 --> 00:08:34,875
are probably your benefit.
316
00:08:35,125 --> 00:08:36,791
But then you have OECMs.
317
00:08:36,791 --> 00:08:38,500
These other protected areas that have
318
00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:40,833
unintended impacts, like positive impacts
319
00:08:40,833 --> 00:08:42,500
on other species, there may not be
320
00:08:42,500 --> 00:08:43,958
completely legally binding,
321
00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,416
but they're important because if you
322
00:08:45,416 --> 00:08:46,958
protect them from fisheries, you're
323
00:08:46,958 --> 00:08:48,375
probably protecting whatever habitat
324
00:08:48,375 --> 00:08:49,416
that's under there, whether it's a
325
00:08:49,416 --> 00:08:51,083
spawning habitat or something else.
326
00:08:51,541 --> 00:08:53,333
So having these in your conservation
327
00:08:53,333 --> 00:08:54,500
strategy might be best.
328
00:08:54,750 --> 00:08:56,708
You may not be able to get an MPA status,
329
00:08:57,041 --> 00:09:00,458
but you could get an OECM status and then
330
00:09:00,458 --> 00:09:01,916
protect everything that's underneath
331
00:09:01,916 --> 00:09:03,541
that, which may even
332
00:09:03,541 --> 00:09:04,916
say, hey, you know what?
333
00:09:04,916 --> 00:09:07,000
We should make these OECMs even bigger
334
00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,208
because we can include more habitats that
335
00:09:09,208 --> 00:09:09,875
we didn't know that
336
00:09:09,875 --> 00:09:10,625
were there beforehand.
337
00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,041
So when you go into these OECMs, you're
338
00:09:13,041 --> 00:09:14,125
like, this is a fisheries closure.
339
00:09:14,583 --> 00:09:16,125
What else can we protect under here?
340
00:09:16,416 --> 00:09:18,166
How can we design these boundaries that
341
00:09:18,166 --> 00:09:19,625
will actually protect everything?
342
00:09:19,875 --> 00:09:21,833
And when you protect biodiversity, it's
343
00:09:21,833 --> 00:09:23,291
really important because biodiversity
344
00:09:23,291 --> 00:09:25,125
means stability of the
345
00:09:25,125 --> 00:09:26,791
ocean in that particular area.
346
00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,166
If you don't have high biodiversity, you
347
00:09:29,166 --> 00:09:30,458
don't have great stability.
348
00:09:30,791 --> 00:09:32,125
And that can change a system that can
349
00:09:32,125 --> 00:09:33,583
flip a system into something that's
350
00:09:33,583 --> 00:09:35,541
different that can affect fisheries, that
351
00:09:35,541 --> 00:09:37,416
can affect tourism, that can affect just
352
00:09:37,416 --> 00:09:39,583
the overall health of the ocean and the
353
00:09:39,583 --> 00:09:40,666
quality of the ocean.
354
00:09:40,708 --> 00:09:42,250
So for instance, if you think of a coral
355
00:09:42,250 --> 00:09:45,041
reef, if you lose a lot of algae eating
356
00:09:45,041 --> 00:09:47,333
fish that keep algae off the corals, then
357
00:09:47,333 --> 00:09:49,833
you can lose a lot of those corals based
358
00:09:49,833 --> 00:09:52,083
on algae growth and increased sunlight,
359
00:09:52,083 --> 00:09:53,291
increased sea surface temperature.
360
00:09:53,708 --> 00:09:54,875
And then the diversity is going to
361
00:09:54,875 --> 00:09:56,416
decrease because there's not going to be
362
00:09:56,416 --> 00:09:58,583
a coral reef in that area because the
363
00:09:58,583 --> 00:09:59,625
fish just disappear.
364
00:10:00,125 --> 00:10:02,125
The coral reefs can't stop the algae from
365
00:10:02,125 --> 00:10:03,541
overgrowing and all the other fish that
366
00:10:03,541 --> 00:10:06,000
depend on these corals to live and for
367
00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:07,166
hiding spots and everything, they just
368
00:10:07,166 --> 00:10:08,708
don't have anything to be there for.
369
00:10:08,750 --> 00:10:10,500
So you get eaten or they leave or they
370
00:10:10,500 --> 00:10:11,791
die off and nothing these
371
00:10:11,791 --> 00:10:13,083
species don't want to be there.
372
00:10:13,083 --> 00:10:15,583
So you get this degradation of a habitat.
373
00:10:15,583 --> 00:10:16,541
So I'm talking about the
374
00:10:16,541 --> 00:10:18,375
health of an actual habitat.
375
00:10:18,666 --> 00:10:20,875
So what we wanted to look at is how can
376
00:10:20,875 --> 00:10:22,333
we put this into marine
377
00:10:22,333 --> 00:10:23,750
conservation and policies?
378
00:10:23,750 --> 00:10:25,291
This study supports the growing
379
00:10:25,291 --> 00:10:27,541
recognition that OECMs are an important
380
00:10:27,541 --> 00:10:29,375
conservation tool that can complement
381
00:10:29,375 --> 00:10:30,666
marine protected areas.
382
00:10:30,666 --> 00:10:31,583
They don't always have to
383
00:10:31,583 --> 00:10:32,625
be marine protected areas.
384
00:10:32,625 --> 00:10:33,666
To get a marine protected area
385
00:10:33,666 --> 00:10:35,958
established in Canada or even the world,
386
00:10:35,958 --> 00:10:37,041
it is very difficult.
387
00:10:37,083 --> 00:10:38,208
It takes a long time.
388
00:10:38,208 --> 00:10:40,250
It has to go through a specific process.
389
00:10:40,791 --> 00:10:42,833
It could be very, very long before you
390
00:10:42,833 --> 00:10:44,208
can get an MPA status.
391
00:10:44,666 --> 00:10:46,208
And sometimes you may not be able to get
392
00:10:46,208 --> 00:10:47,625
it in time to protect what
393
00:10:47,625 --> 00:10:48,458
you're trying to protect.
394
00:10:48,916 --> 00:10:50,708
It also suggests that OECM should be
395
00:10:50,708 --> 00:10:51,708
formally recognized in
396
00:10:51,708 --> 00:10:52,750
conservation strategies.
397
00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,000
I think this is something that's not
398
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,333
taking as seriously as we hope and as
399
00:10:56,333 --> 00:10:57,500
they can contribute to the international
400
00:10:57,500 --> 00:10:59,500
biodiversity targets such as a convention
401
00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:00,250
of biological
402
00:11:00,250 --> 00:11:02,666
diversity's 30 by 30 target.
403
00:11:02,666 --> 00:11:04,125
Now, here's where we have to be careful.
404
00:11:04,416 --> 00:11:06,375
We want MPAs because MPAs under the
405
00:11:06,375 --> 00:11:07,333
definition have no
406
00:11:07,333 --> 00:11:09,583
extractive processes in the MPA.
407
00:11:09,958 --> 00:11:11,500
OECMs have something different.
408
00:11:11,916 --> 00:11:13,125
They may be closed for fisheries
409
00:11:13,125 --> 00:11:14,250
management, but they may be
410
00:11:14,250 --> 00:11:16,083
open to oil and gas drilling.
411
00:11:16,083 --> 00:11:17,333
We don't know or mining.
412
00:11:17,666 --> 00:11:19,041
We have no idea, right?
413
00:11:19,041 --> 00:11:20,708
So there can be other things
414
00:11:20,708 --> 00:11:22,458
that happen within that area.
415
00:11:22,916 --> 00:11:25,333
But an MPA under the definition, IUCN
416
00:11:25,333 --> 00:11:26,875
definition is like, don't touch.
417
00:11:27,250 --> 00:11:27,708
That's it.
418
00:11:27,958 --> 00:11:29,541
We are not touching it at all.
419
00:11:29,541 --> 00:11:30,458
Nobody can do anything.
420
00:11:30,458 --> 00:11:31,500
Nothing extractive.
421
00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:32,333
Don't even go in there.
422
00:11:32,750 --> 00:11:34,666
So we have to be careful when we start
423
00:11:34,666 --> 00:11:36,291
proposing that these OECMs be a part of
424
00:11:36,291 --> 00:11:38,750
the strategy because this is where we
425
00:11:38,750 --> 00:11:40,833
were at before the MPA strategy used to
426
00:11:40,833 --> 00:11:42,125
be that you can still drill
427
00:11:42,125 --> 00:11:43,833
for oil if they so desired.
428
00:11:43,833 --> 00:11:45,166
If the companies that had those leases so
429
00:11:45,166 --> 00:11:47,208
desired now that's frowned upon.
430
00:11:47,208 --> 00:11:47,791
You don't do that.
431
00:11:47,791 --> 00:11:49,083
I don't think you can even do that.
432
00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:51,458
When you go to look at OECMs, you can do
433
00:11:51,458 --> 00:11:52,833
other extractive processes, which are
434
00:11:52,833 --> 00:11:55,583
pretty much not be good for that OECM.
435
00:11:55,791 --> 00:11:57,333
So we do have to be careful with that.
436
00:11:57,500 --> 00:11:59,041
But policymakers should adopt a more
437
00:11:59,041 --> 00:12:00,625
holistic approach when assessing
438
00:12:00,625 --> 00:12:01,541
conservation effectiveness.
439
00:12:01,791 --> 00:12:04,041
So not just MPAs, look at OECMs and look
440
00:12:04,041 --> 00:12:05,083
at what else they're protecting,
441
00:12:05,458 --> 00:12:07,416
considering not only direct protections,
442
00:12:07,416 --> 00:12:09,958
but also indirect ecosystem benefits.
443
00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:11,458
Essentially, what we're talking about
444
00:12:11,458 --> 00:12:13,416
here is that fisheries closures within
445
00:12:13,416 --> 00:12:15,625
OECM can have a significant biodiversity
446
00:12:15,625 --> 00:12:18,125
benefits beyond their initial goals,
447
00:12:18,583 --> 00:12:20,666
reinforcing the needs to integrate OECMs
448
00:12:20,666 --> 00:12:22,500
into broader conservation planning.
449
00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:23,500
That's what this study says.
450
00:12:23,750 --> 00:12:25,250
I don't completely agree with it, but you
451
00:12:25,250 --> 00:12:26,041
can never go wrong with
452
00:12:26,041 --> 00:12:27,083
another protected area.
453
00:12:27,333 --> 00:12:28,958
It underscores the importance of spatial
454
00:12:28,958 --> 00:12:30,125
planning in marine ecosystems.
455
00:12:30,375 --> 00:12:32,375
Spatial planning essentially is taking a
456
00:12:32,375 --> 00:12:33,416
business plan and
457
00:12:33,416 --> 00:12:34,625
putting it into the ocean.
458
00:12:34,625 --> 00:12:36,375
It's what we do on land all the time.
459
00:12:36,375 --> 00:12:37,416
We have green zones.
460
00:12:37,416 --> 00:12:38,333
We have industrial zones.
461
00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:39,333
We have residential areas.
462
00:12:39,541 --> 00:12:40,750
It's all spatially planned.
463
00:12:41,041 --> 00:12:42,875
We should do that with the ocean with the
464
00:12:42,875 --> 00:12:44,666
amount of different users we have oil and
465
00:12:44,666 --> 00:12:47,041
gas, recreation, commercial fishing and
466
00:12:47,041 --> 00:12:47,666
other commercial like
467
00:12:47,666 --> 00:12:48,500
shipping and so forth.
468
00:12:48,916 --> 00:12:51,708
So many conflicting uses that we need to
469
00:12:51,708 --> 00:12:53,166
plan that all out to make sure that
470
00:12:53,166 --> 00:12:53,875
certain areas are
471
00:12:53,875 --> 00:12:55,333
designated for certain things.
472
00:12:55,333 --> 00:12:56,291
That's what we want to do.
473
00:12:56,291 --> 00:12:57,750
But it's basically that kind of plan.
474
00:12:58,083 --> 00:12:59,625
So it underscores the importance of
475
00:12:59,625 --> 00:13:01,250
spatial planning and marine ecosystems
476
00:13:01,250 --> 00:13:03,333
and the need for adaptive management
477
00:13:03,333 --> 00:13:04,791
approaches that can recognize the
478
00:13:04,791 --> 00:13:05,875
multiple benefits of
479
00:13:05,875 --> 00:13:07,125
area based protections.
480
00:13:07,625 --> 00:13:09,750
Adaptive management is the key to
481
00:13:09,750 --> 00:13:10,833
figuring out management
482
00:13:10,833 --> 00:13:12,166
now and in the future.
483
00:13:12,416 --> 00:13:12,958
Adaptive management is
484
00:13:12,958 --> 00:13:14,500
essentially what it sounds like.
485
00:13:14,791 --> 00:13:16,833
You adapt to what happens in that area.
486
00:13:16,833 --> 00:13:18,958
If something changes or the water quality
487
00:13:18,958 --> 00:13:20,500
changes or the sea surface temperature
488
00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:23,166
changes or something else happens, then
489
00:13:23,166 --> 00:13:24,833
you have to adapt to that and you have to
490
00:13:24,833 --> 00:13:27,041
adapt your policies to match what's
491
00:13:27,041 --> 00:13:27,666
happening to a future.
492
00:13:27,791 --> 00:13:28,250
So you have to
493
00:13:28,250 --> 00:13:29,583
effectively manage that area.
494
00:13:29,583 --> 00:13:30,875
So that's essentially what it is.
495
00:13:30,875 --> 00:13:32,666
It's just every year, every five years
496
00:13:32,666 --> 00:13:34,625
you look back and say, what's changed and
497
00:13:34,625 --> 00:13:35,625
do we need to change our
498
00:13:35,625 --> 00:13:37,458
policies in regards to that?
499
00:13:37,458 --> 00:13:38,708
That's essentially the episode.
500
00:13:39,041 --> 00:13:39,875
It's a pretty cool study.
501
00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:41,416
I really like what I read on there.
502
00:13:41,666 --> 00:13:43,166
I'll put the link in the show notes so
503
00:13:43,166 --> 00:13:44,375
you can get access to that.
504
00:13:44,583 --> 00:13:46,000
But if you have any questions or comments
505
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,500
on this, I would love to hear from you.
506
00:13:47,500 --> 00:13:49,625
You can hit me up on Instagram DM me at
507
00:13:49,625 --> 00:13:50,916
how to protect the ocean.
508
00:13:50,916 --> 00:13:52,750
That's at how to protect the ocean.
509
00:13:52,750 --> 00:13:54,166
And don't forget to subscribe and hit
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that notification bell if
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you're watching this on YouTube.
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And if you're not going over, you could
513
00:13:57,666 --> 00:13:58,958
see my pretty little face.
514
00:13:59,208 --> 00:13:59,708
I'm just kidding.
515
00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:01,083
But yeah, you can go there on YouTube.
516
00:14:01,083 --> 00:14:02,750
You can also see the video on Spotify and
517
00:14:02,750 --> 00:14:04,208
listen to the audio on Spotify.
518
00:14:04,625 --> 00:14:05,708
And of course, listen to the audio on
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your favorite podcast app.
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00:14:07,208 --> 00:14:09,000
I want to thank you and don't forget you
521
00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,458
can go to speak up for blue.com to get
522
00:14:10,458 --> 00:14:11,333
access to all of that.
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00:14:11,541 --> 00:14:13,708
The videos, the audio, whatever you need.
524
00:14:13,916 --> 00:14:15,291
Go to speak up from blue.com.
525
00:14:15,583 --> 00:14:16,583
And I want to thank you so much for
526
00:14:16,583 --> 00:14:18,000
joining me on today's episode of the how
527
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,083
to protect the ocean podcast.
528
00:14:19,083 --> 00:14:20,541
I'm your host, Andrew Lewin from the true
529
00:14:20,541 --> 00:14:21,500
North strong and free.
530
00:14:21,875 --> 00:14:22,458
Have a great day.
531
00:14:22,458 --> 00:14:23,000
We'll talk to you next
532
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,041
time and happy conservation.
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