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Currently, the process for new MPAs has difficult and requires multiple levels of bureaucracy, vetting, and scoping. In general, less emphasis should be placed on establishing the effectiveness of any given proposal to all other management strategies. Instead, given the scientific consensus on the effectiveness, more effort should be placed into where to implement as opposed to whether to implement MPAs. Over the 35 years of the National Marine Sanctuaries act only 14 Marine Sanctuaries have been established.
Note that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands were established by executive order of the president. This example hints at a far more efficient means of establishing Marine Sanctuaries.
2.) Expand the National Marine Sanctuaries system through explicit legislation and direct funding.
Currently, MPAs in the United States account for about 3.6% of its total eexclusive economic zone. This is a very good beginning and the coverage significantly above the global average. The United States needs to continue its efforts to expand the Marine Sanctuaries system with the goal of covering at least 10% of its jurisdiction. This can be achieved through a legislative mandate that explicitly sets this goal for the nation and provides the necessary funding to achieve this goal.
3.) Improve the layout of new and existing Marine Sanctuaries.
A network of carefully targeted smaller reserves, operated at more local levels of government would be an excellent way to augment the existing federal sanctuaries. Smaller reserves would make it easier to target particularly threatened, unique, or interesting ecosystems without the need for closing off broad swaths of the ocean.
4.) Engage in a formal public education program.
Ocean education should be a mandatory part of all public school curricula. The oceans are represent 71% of planet's surface and a significantly larger percentage of its biosphere volume (Thurman & Trujillo 2002). The current neglect for ocean literacy in many school systems is a terrible oversight and should be rectified immediately. The n
China
Background:
-A developing country with long coastline (18,000 km) and large fish demand.
-Freshwater resources rank 6th in the world, but the resources per capita is only one fourth of the world's average due to large population. (Chinese Information Office 1998)
-GDP: $10.17 trillion (2006 est.)
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