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We propose that 10% of the world oceans should be covered with No-Take Marine Reserves within fifteen years. Although we will focus on 10% of ocean area, we acknowledge that other related coverage goals have been proposed. One of the most common alternatives is to cover a particular percentage of fish stocks with Marine Reserves (Madin 2001). While such a plan is good in principle, we contend that our proposed metric is easier the easiest to apply quickly and effectively.
We suggest that this figure and timescale is a reasonable middle ground between social and scientific concerns. Specifically, we feel that this is the most conservative coverage amount that can be reasonably expected to provide considerable ecological benefits. Having a clear and explicit goal is important in several respects:
-Firstly, it provides concrete goal towards which supporters of the plan can rally (Ballantine 1991).
-Secondly, providing a short, definite timescale provides a necessary urgency to the plan. Fifteen years is not an unreasonable timeframe for such a global project, considering that achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals was scheduled to take fifteen years (United Nations 2005). Past experience with the establishment of marine reserves has shown that most reserves can be established within 15 years of process initiation (Flower Garden Banks, 2007).
-Finally, a well-defined goal provides reassurance that the goal is not to eventually close off the entire ocean (Ballantine 1991). In other words, this proposal is a commitment to an "upper bound" unless clear evidence becomes available to indicate that 10% is not enough.
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