Marine ecosystems encompass around 70% of the earth's surface and
contribute significantly to human well-being by giving social, economic, and
environmental advantages to the world's growing population. Marine ecosystems
provide a variety of different services that are crucial for human well-being, in addition
to being a major source of food, income, and employment. Coastal protection, marine
biodiversity, and carbon sequestration are among them. Human activities, on the other
hand, place diverse stresses on marine ecosystems, which are predicted to increase,
resulting in cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. As a result,
significant efforts have been made around the world to create marine protected areas
(MPAs) in order to safeguard and preserve biodiversity, as well as natural and cultural
resources. They're usually made by designating zones and prescribing permissible and
prohibited activities within those zones. MPAs include the Open Ocean, coastal areas,
intertidal zones, and estuaries, among other habitats. The United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which established the worldwide framework for
marine governance in 1982, obligated all governments to protect and conserve the
marine environment. In 2000, MPAs covered 0.7% of the Ocean; since then, MPA
coverage has increased by more than tenfold to 7.68%. The MPA network will need to
be ecologically representative, equitably and efficiently maintained, and of particular
importance for ecosystem services in order to meet the aim.
Keywords: Marine Ecosystems, Protected Areas, Human Activities, Cumulative Effects, Biodiversity, Effective Management.
