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Inconsistency between MPA and migratory fish habitats

Marine Protected Areas are critical to the conservation of marine biodiversity and ecosystems. However, a new study found that MPAs often do not intersect with critical habitats for rare migratory fish species. This means that this vulnerable fish cannot be adequately protected from threats such as overfishing and habitat destruction.

Illustration of a whale swimming in the ocean. The whale is one example of a migratory fish that may be affected by the creation of marine reserves (MPs). MPAs can be useful for protecting fish stocks, but they can also limit the access of migratory fish to important habitats.

The study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, analyzed the distribution of 66 rare migratory fish species and 135 MPAs around the world. The researchers found that only 8% of MPAs overlapped with critical spawning grounds for these fish species, and only 3% overlapped with critical migration corridors.

Why is this happening?

There are a number of reasons why MPAs may not coincide with critical habitats for rare migratory fish. First, data on the distribution of these fish are often incomplete or inaccurate. Second, the design of MPAs is often driven by political or economic considerations rather than scientific data about where the fish live. Third, MPAs may not be large enough to capture the full range of migratory fish species.

What can be done?

There are a number of things that can be done to improve the overlap between MPAs and critical habitats for rare migratory fish. First, more research is needed to better understand the distribution and movement of these fish. Second, the development of MPA should be based on the best available scientific data. Third, MPAs must be large enough to cover the full range of migratory fish species.


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