Policy Brief - Recognising connectivity and climate change impacts as essential elements for an effective North Atlantic MPA network

• Main Authors: Tinch, Rob, Danis, Bruno, Johnson, David, Kenchington, Ellen, Fox, Alan, Arnaud-Haond, Sophie, Morato, Telmo, Boschen-Rose, Rachel, Barrio Froján, Christopher, Roberts, J. Murray
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2019
• Subjects: North Atlantic; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3275209

• MPAs can be effective tools for deep-sea ecosystem protection but their effectiveness to counter the impacts of human activities is likely compromised by climate change and ocean acidification. • Maintaining the natural linkage between marine habitats is crucial to healthy marine ecosystems. • Effectiveness should be considered in the context of MPA networks and connectivity. • Area-based planning and management tools in the North Atlantic Ocean’s Area Beyond National Jurisdiction already show a need for climate proofing. • The EU-funded Horizon2020 ATLAS project is linking deep-sea connectivity, bioregions and physical parameters. • Practical implications for the planning of MPA networks include the need to recognise marine exploited areas and deep-sea areas where biodiversity may be more resilient to climate change.