A recent study sheds light on the regulatory landscape of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the European Union, revealing both the extent of allowed activities and significant gaps in regulatory data.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) currently cover around 12% of EU marine waters, with the primary goal of protecting marine ecosystems from the damaging effects of human activities. However, many MPAs fall short of their potential due to limited regulations or incomplete implementation of conservation measures.
Published in the Nature Paper Journals series on Ocean Sustainability, the study titled Major Data Gaps and Recommendations in Monitoring Regulations of Activities in EU Marine Protected Areas presents a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory frameworks governing activities in over 4,800 EU MPAs. It assesses the existence of reported regulations across sectors such as fishing, mining, aquaculture, dredging and maritime transport - and offers key recommendations to close persistent data gaps.
Key findings
Using an integrated approach that combines data from MSP+, the ProtectedSeas Navigator and expert assessments, the study offers a detailed snapshot of how maritime activities are regulated within EU MPAs. The key findings highlight both regulatory inconsistencies and limited restrictions on high-impact activities:
- Widespread data gaps and inconsistent reporting standards
- 14.5% of MPAs – representing 16.6% of the total protected area – had no publicly available regulatory information for any maritime activity (i.e., authorisations, restrictions or prohibitions).
- Among MPAs with available data, fishing was the most commonly reported activity (65.7% of MPA area), followed by transport (42.1%), mining (28.1%), dredging/dumping (28.0%), and non-extractive uses (20.9%).
- Where data is available: limited restrictions on impactful activities
- Fisheries were authorised in over 40% of MPA areas, restricted in less than 25%, and explicitly prohibited in only 0.4%.
- Collectively, fishing, mining, and dredging/dumping were permitted in nearly 48% of the total MPA area.
- Mining stood out as the only activity prohibited in at least 10% of MPA area – underscoring both the rarity of prohibitive measures and sector-specific disparities in regulation.
Recommendations
While marine data systems and spatial planning tools are rapidly advancing, the study’s authors emphasise that harmonising regulatory reporting remains a major challenge. They call for clearer and more standardised data collection and reporting practices. Strengthening national-level commitments to data sharing and encouraging closer collaboration between scientists, legal experts and policymakers are also seen as key steps forward.
They emphasise that improving data collection and monitoring is crucial for evaluating the regulations of MPAs. This is a vital component for meeting the objectives outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy, ensuring that MPAs fulfill their intended purpose of conserving marine biodiversity and protecting fragile ecosystems for future generations.
The findings of the study align closely with the objectives of the EU Blue Parks Community. In line with the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters,’ the initiative supports the implementation of stricter protections in MPAs, ensuring that these areas are not only designated but also effectively managed to safeguard marine biodiversity. By enhancing collaboration among national authorities, researchers, and practitioners, the Community aims to address the challenges posed by gaps in data and inconsistent regulatory frameworks.
For more resources and information from the EU Blue Parks Community, visit this page.
The EU Blue Parks Community is a collaborative platform that connects EU Member State authorities, practitioners, researchers and stakeholders working toward the shared goal of protecting marine ecosystems. The initiative aligns with the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030,’ aiming to protect 30% of European seas and strictly protect 10% by 2030.