Global Park Defense in Marine Protected Areas: Putting the P in MPA

Our oceans are under siege. Many of the world’s coastal marine ecosystems have been trawled, polluted, and overfished, and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have become our last bastions for saving intact coastal and reef ecosystems. MPAs provide a sanctuary for fish and other marine wildlife, allowing fisheries to regenerate, maintaining healthy coral reefs, and supporting resilient marine ecosystems. In many developing countries, coastal MPAs are important centers of fishing, diving, and tourism, providing a critical source of food and income for local communities. 

Despite their importance, illegal activities continue to deplete MPAs worldwide. Global Conservation focuses on providing the systems, technology and training needed for the protection of Marine Protected Areas – what we call Global Park Defense. Global Park Defense provides a low-cost, highly effective system for protecting endangered MPAs, helping marine park authorities to detect suspicious fishing activity day or night.

Global Park Defense includes:

• Marine Monitor Radar
• Long-Range Cameras
• UAV Drones
• SMART Marine Patrols

We partner with the Anthropocene Institute to deploy their Marine Monitor (M2) systems, which provide radar for fishing inspectors and wildlife rangers. We are also supporting research and development of next-generation marine-hardened, off-grid Mobile Marine Monitor (M3) trailer systems that can be shipped in standard shipping containers anywhere in the world.

Working with the Anthropocene Institute, Wildcoast, NOAA, OneReef, ProNatura, Coral Triangle and other conservation partners, we are scaling up Global Park Defense for marine park protection around the globe. Currently, Global Conservation funds deployment of Global Park Defense in twelve MPAs worldwide. Below are just a few of our projects.

Your support is critical to the success of our work. Please join us to save our endangered World Heritage Sites and National Marine Parks around the world. Click here to get involved today!

1. Palau Northern Reefs: The power of community engagement

The Republic of Palau is a cluster of about 340 islands in a seemingly endless stretch of water studded with atolls. Palau’s ocean riches are many; its coral reefs are considered one of the seven Underwater Wonders of the World. In just one day, it’s possible for a diver to see a menagerie of megafauna, from giant clams and manta rays to sea turtles, dugongs and fierce saltwater crocodiles that grow up to 4.5m (15ft) long. Palau’s technicolor reefs contain more than 350 hard coral species, 200 soft corals, 300 sponges, and 1300 species of reef fish. Ongeim’l Tketau Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk Island attracts thousands of snorkelers per year, who come to swim among nearly a million golden-hued, stingless jellies. Palau is a story of hope and restoration, a testament to the power of bottom-up community engagement, and an emerging model in the Pacific for MPA protection and enforcement. We’re proud to join forces with the people of Palau to help save this remarkable marine ecosystem that is so integral to Palauan identity. Read more here.

2. Cabo Pulmo, Mexico: “The most successful MPA in the world”

At Cabo Pulmo, the vast desert and pristine beaches give way to a shallow bay that cradles one of only three living reefs, and the only hard coral reef, in North America. Cabo Pulmo is exceptionally biodiverse; so much so that Jacques Cousteau once called this area “the aquarium of the world”. Thanks to the efforts of local people, this once-barren reef is now recognized as an area of global marine conservation significance. In fact, Cabo Pulmo National Park has been called the most successful MPA in the world, with fish and other wildlife increasing nearly 500% since its establishment. The park is home to over 890 fish species, 90 of them endemic, along with 25 species of coral, over 4,800 invertebrate species, the poisonous yellow-bellied sea snake, and 90% of the world's near-threatened Heermann's gulls. Almost 40% of the world’s marine mammal species live here, including 34 species of dolphins and whales and the breeding and nursery grounds for 30,000 California sea lions. These waters are invaluable to science and as a fisheries and tourism resource that benefits local people; an investment in Cabo Pulmo’s protection and conservation is an investment in local communities. Read more here.

3. Jardines de la Reina, Cuba: Cuba’s Coral Garden

Jardines de la Reina, sometimes called “Cuba’s Coral Garden”, is one of the last major intact marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Caribbean. Its name means Gardens of the Queen, named by Christopher Columbus after Queen Isabella I of Spain. This archipelago covers about 684,000 hectares and is a testament to the power of protected areas: since Jardines de la Reina was protected in 1996, fish numbers have increased 30-50%, and it’s the last refuge for critically endangered sharks, groupers and sea turtles in Cuba. Along the shore, labyrinthine mangrove forests are nurseries for young fish, protecting them as they grow. This pristine habitat is a wellspring of fish that helps populate surrounding areas, guarding this region against threats like overfishing and pollution. The park also contains saltwater crocodiles, marine mammals, three sea turtle species, and black corals, which are thought to be among the oldest organisms in the world; some are over 4,000 years old. Read more about this Caribbean jewel here.

4. Isla de la Plata, Machalilla National Park, Ecuador: Treasure Island

Isla de la Plata (Silver Island) lies 20km off the coast of one of Ecuador’s first national parks, Parque Nacional Machalilla. Some say that the island got its name from a hoard of pirated silver that the explorer Sir Francis Drake buried here; others say it comes from the vast sheets of pale seabird guano that coat the dark rocks. But Drake’s silver isn’t the only treasure that the island is known for: the rocky reefs and coral communities around Isla de la Plata harbor stunning biodiversity, making it one of South America’s most important MPAs. The island is a breeding ground for humpback whales and a critical migration area for oceanic manta rays, as well as an important habitat for dolphins, sea lions, green turtles, sharks and rays. On the island, about 175 species of bird have been recorded, including several threatened seabird species, an endemic mockingbird, and the only other known colony of critically endangered waved albatrosses outside of the Galapagos. Ecuador recently implemented one of the country’s first “No Take” areas here, banning all industrial and artisanal fishing within two miles of the island. We’re committed to helping them to protect this treasured island. Read more here.

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