Data related to legality, including protected areas, administrative boundaries, census areas, indigenous lands, legal documents, partnerships, pledges,  regulations, and compliance. 

governance-law

Governance & Law

Information related to the health, chemistry, and conservation of marine ecosystems,  including coral reef health. 

marine-environment

Marine Environment

Data covering the marine environment, including fisheries, coral reef  health, ocean chemistry, and coastal zones.

oceans-seas-coasts

Oceans, Seas, & Coasts

Data on protected areas like conservation zones and ecologically sensitive regions. 

protected-areas

Protected Areas

### Overview  
  
The Fully and Highly Protected Marine Areas dataset as shown on Resource Watch presents marine protected areas (MPAs) that are fully or highly protected. The [Marine Protection Atlas (MPAtlas)](https://mpatlas.org/) uses the [World Database on Protected Areas](https://www.protectedplanet.net/en/thematic-areas/marine-protected-areas) as a starting point, then assesses the current protection status of listed MPAs based on additional sources and research. This global dataset was first created in 2020 and in the future will be regularly updated, as new MPAs are created, protections change, and currently designated areas are implemented.

  
  
MPAs are essential for safeguarding biodiversity and the health of marine ecosystems. They provide sanctuary for species to mature and reproduce, and they help restore healthy populations within and beyond their borders. MPAs also build resilience against threats such as climate change and pollution by maintaining vital natural processes, storing carbon, buffering coastlines, and ensuring sustainable food supplies for coastal communities. However, different MPAs may offer different levels of protection, from minor restrictions to the full exclusion of most commercial activity. Robust scientific evidence indicates that no-take zones (where no extractive activities are allowed) and highly protected areas yield the greatest conservation benefits.

  
  
The MPAtlas brings together the best available information on marine protection around the world, so that the marine conservation community can work together to protect at least [30% of the world's oceans by 2030](https://www.campaignfornature.org/science-page). This more detailed approach to MPA data provides a more nuanced look at progress toward conservation goals and the outcomes that can be expected from existing protections.
  
  
### Methodology  
  
MPAtlas takes the WDPA as its starting point and examines the listed MPAs in depth, adding to or replacing WDPA records with information from original research using more detailed or up-to-date sources, such as national or regional databases, official documentation, or management plans. These additions can include more accurate spatial data, such as the addition of boundaries for individual zones within an MPA. It can also include more detailed information about site regulations and management, both of which are directly related to conservation outcomes.

  
  
MPAtlas coverage numbers differ from those of other sources for two primary reasons:
1. MPAtlas attempts to identify and distinguish protected areas that are legally designated but are still awaiting implementation from those that are fully in effect on the water. The project also identifies committed or proposed protected areas that have not yet achieved legal or authoritative recognition.
2. MPA coverage data is reported by protection level, as no-take and fully and highly protected areas are those which afford the greatest conservation benefits. The project accomplishes this by conducting detailed assessments using widely-accepted, scientifically-based criteria for measuring an MPA’s protection level and associated conservation outcomes. Detailed information about the assessment process [can be found here](https://marine-conservation.org/mpatlas-assessments/).

  
  
For the full documentation, please see the source [methodology](https://mpatlas.org/methods).
  
  
### Additional Information  
  
Resource Watch also shows [the full WDPA](https://resourcewatch.org/data/explore/bio007-World-Database-on-Protected-Areas_replacement) and [the MPA subset](https://resourcewatch.org/data/explore/bio007b-Marine-Protected-Areas), on which the MPAtlas is based.

  
  
Resource Watch shows only a subset of the Marine Protected Atlas. The MPAtlas includes all MPAs in the WDPA, but because these are already mapped elsewhere, Resource Watch displays only those MPAtlas entries with confirmed partial or complete protections from fishing and extractive commercial activity.

  
  
For access to the full dataset and additional information, click on the “Learn more” button.
  
  
### Visualizing the Data  
  
Our team reformatted this dataset before displaying it on Resource Watch. See the documentation on how Resource Watch processed the data on [GitHub](https://github.com/resource-watch/nrt-scripts/tree/master/ocn_018_fully_highly_protected_marine_areas).
  
  
### Disclaimer  
  
Excerpts of this description page were taken from the source metadata.

United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Marine Protection Atlas

ocn-018-fully-and-highly-protected-marine-areas-rw

ocean-watch

Ocean Watch

Implemented Fully and Highly Protected Areas

Planned Fully and Highly Protected Areas

Detailed information about and implementation status of fully and highly protected marine areas