GC Video: Global Park Defense for Marine Protected Areas

Global Conservation is protecting endangered UNESCO World Heritage and Marine National Parks in developing countries.

Global Park Defense for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides systems, technology and training for Marine Wardens protecting sanctuaries for marine wildlife, intact coral reefs and their ecosystems.

Narration from Video

Illegal fishing accounts for over 20% of all fish taken from the world’s seas. Millions of people who depend upon marine resources are impacted, resulting in losses of billions of dollars to legitimate fishermen annually. Coastal MPAs are critical sources of food and income to local communities from nearby fishing, diving and tourism.

Poachers use blast fishing and cyanide poisoning to kill and capture fish species, even those which are endangered. Fishing nets tangle in reefs creating permanent hazards to marine life. Due to the decimation of reefs, many marine species are now on the brink of extinction. The illegal fishing of sharks, manta rays and breeding fish make it nearly impossible for these endangered species to regenerate.

Compressor or hookah diving is illegal because it contributes to overfishing, is environmentally destructive, and is harmful to the health of the fishermen themselves. These fishermen often suffer from respiratory problems, limb paralysis, and even death due to decompression illness.

Poachers are relentless and target all species. Even those with little commercial value are destroyed by these illegal fishing methods.

Global Park Defense for Marine National Parks

Global Conservation is providing the systems, technology and training needed to protect Marine National Parks. This program is called Global Park Defense. Through the use of Marine Monitor Radar, Long-Range Cameras, UAV Drones and SMART Marine Patrols, Global Park Defense supports the enforcement of international laws.        

Working with the Anthropocene Institute, Wildcoast, OneReef, the NOAA, ProNatura and other conservation partners, Global Conservation is scaling up Global Park Defense for marine park protection around the globe.

The M2 and M3 are mobile radar systems that detect and track vessel activity in near-shore protected areas. These marine monitor systems provide law enforcement agencies with critical data and a record of illegal activities.

This is a new hardened, off-grid mobile marine monitor trailer system that can be shipped in standard containers anywhere in the world. Brendan Tougher leads the M2 Project for Protected Seas at the Anthropocene Institute.

Global Park Defense provides a low-cost, highly effective system which is helping marine park authorities detect suspicious fishing activity . . .  day or night.

Despite the designation of hundreds of marine parks as sanctuaries, enforcement is limited and few are actually protected.

Global Park Defense has been deployed to Palau, Mexico, the Philippines, Cuba and Indonesia. In California, R&D sites are stationed at Cal Poly, U.C. Santa Barbara and Scripps Institute at U.C. San Diego.

Global Conservation is now engaged in a multi-year process of Threat Assessment, Systems Deployment, Marine Warden Capacity Building and Community Involvement in endangered marine sanctuaries.

Violators are being caught and arrested. Illegal fishing boats are being scuttled. Previously endangered MPA's are being saved. Fisheries are being replenished, providing food and income for local communities that depend upon them for survival.

Your support is critical to the success of Global Conservation as they work to save endangered World Heritage Marine Parks around the world.

Please go to globalconservation.org and get involved.