Extractive activities in marine protected areas: moving the bar

How protected are marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Salish Sea? Although we would never expect extractive activities in our national parks, MPAs do not consistently receive the same protection. This paper compares the activities that are currently authorized in MPAs in British Columbia and Washington state. Extractive activities such as oil and gas exploration and development and undersea mining are permissible in some MPAs, either directly with the area or through directional drilling into the seabed. Shipping traffic can harm marine animals through pollution, noise and vessel strikes. Harmful commercial fishing practices and fish farming can put fish populations at risk and cause damage to marine habitat. On the other hand, fully protected MPAs can benefit the overall health of the marine environment. Reforming MPA laws to adopt science-based prohibitions on extractive activities can provide strong, lasting protection to MPAs and to our oceans.