Mobile marine protection moves closer

Published on 18/02/2012 01:40

MOBILE protection areas that follow the movements of fish, turtles and birds may be the best way to safeguard creatures in the oceans, an expert has claimed.

The “pelagic” conservation zones would not impose fishing restrictions in one place, but shift location according to where threatened species are expected to be.

US marine biologist Professor Larry Crowder believes advances in satellite tagging and oceanography has made the change from static Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) feasible.

He points out that such a system could actually benefit fishermen by allowing for more flexibility, in that, once an endangered species moved out of a zone, they would no longer be restricted in that area.

International agreements might be needed to make mobile marine protection areas workable in the open ocean, Prof Crowder acknowledged.