Recently, the South China Sea Institute of Xiamen University jointly released the report “Theory and Practice of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the European Union” with international institutions. The report systematically reviews the practical experience of the EU in MPA policies, laws, and management, and summarizes the strengths and challenges of EU MPAs.
The release of the report coincides with the conclusion of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and is at a crucial juncture in advancing the “30×30 Target,” opening up new avenues for international exchange and cooperation in the field of marine ecological protection.
The report highlights that MPAs are not only an integral part of marine protection actions in both China and the EU, but they also play a significant bridging role in the increasingly deepening Sino-European marine cooperation. There is vast potential for collaboration between China and the EU in the realm of MPAs.
Qin Tianbao, Director of the Institute of Environmental Law at Wuhan University, stated, “Global ocean governance requires the participation of stakeholders from all sectors and countries. The deepening of the Sino-European Blue Partnership will create more opportunities and possibilities for cooperation between the two sides in the field of marine protection, jointly contributing to the sustainable development of the global marine ecosystem.”
MPAs Cover 12% of EU Maritime Areas
EU MPAs encompass diverse habitats and rich flora and fauna, and the EU has accumulated extensive experience and lessons in the establishment and management of MPAs over the past 40 years.
The report indicates that approximately 12% of EU maritime areas are covered by MPAs. EU MPAs can be categorized into three types based on their designation: firstly, the Natura 2000 network established under the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive, accounting for about 43.1% of the total area of EU MPAs; secondly, protected areas designated under regional sea conventions, distributed across the four regional seas of the EU (Baltic Sea, Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea), representing about 9% of the total protected area; and thirdly, protected areas established by EU member states under national laws, constituting about 6% of the total protected area. There is overlap among these three types of protected areas, with overlapping regions accounting for about 41.9% of the total MPA area.
Timeline of Relevant Policy Introduction for EU MPAs Source: European Court of Auditors, 2020
The report systematically reviews the legislation most closely related to EU MPAs, including the Birds Directive, Habitats Directive, and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and analyzes the effectiveness and limitations of other relevant legislation, including the Marine Spatial Planning Directive, Common Fisheries Policy, and Nature Restoration Law.
Challenges Faced by EU MPAs
The report reveals that EU MPAs primarily face challenges such as pressures from human activities, inadequate management plans or effectiveness, insufficient reporting, limited ecological connectivity and representativeness of protected areas, and funding shortages. Only 1.8% of the total area of EU MPAs have management plans. The report suggests that the EU may not need to introduce new laws but should focus on the comprehensive implementation and transparency of existing policies and strengthen direct reporting mechanisms.
Furthermore, adopting an ecosystem approach in assessing cumulative impacts and formulating corresponding measures is crucial to addressing the pressures from human activities.
Cooperation is Key to Addressing Global Marine Ecological Challenges
Despite complex challenges, the report shows that EU MPAs have brought conservation benefits and multiple socio-economic benefits. In particular, MPAs implementing no-take zones can fully protect biodiversity and biomass.
The report points out that other key benefits of EU MPAs include improvements in food security and fishermen’s livelihoods, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, new opportunities for scientific research and innovation, and other socio-economic benefits such as education, culture, and tourism development.
Zhang Zhaohui, a researcher at the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, said, “After the effectiveness of MPAs is widely recognized, people expect to establish more MPAs to achieve anticipated goals such as enhancing marine protection intensity, reducing human interference, reducing marine pollution, conserving fisheries resources, providing habitats/shelters, protecting endangered species and biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem balance, sustaining ecological products and services, and mitigating climate change.”
The report特别强调 that in the future, through research exchanges, mutual visits and joint construction of MPAs, China and the EU are expected to strengthen their respective MPA development efforts domestically (within their territories).
On the international stage, Sino-European cooperation will actively drive the international process of marine biodiversity protection, working hand-in-hand with other countries to establish an effectively managed and well-connected network of MPAs, and advancing global marine ecological environment governance. Both China and the EU have played constructive roles in the negotiation of the BBNJ Agreement, and both parties should continue to collaborate to ensure the early entry into force and effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.