Abstract

Currently, there are more than 1,800 MMAs in U.S. marine waters and the Great Lakes, managed by hundreds of distinct federal, state, and territorial authorities. The South Atlantic (339) and Gulf of Mexico (318) regions have the greatest number of MMAs, while the Caribbean region has 42 individual MMAs. Spatial management covers a considerable portion of the regional waters (0 - 200 nm) of the South Atlantic (68%) and Gulf of Mexico (41%), though less than 1% of Caribbean waters are designated in MMAs. Much of the MMA area in each region consists of large MMAs focused on promoting sustainable fisheries. Although a few, large federally managed natural heritage MMAs also occur in each region. The overwhelming majority of MMAs in these regions are “multiple-use” sites, in which a variety of human activities, including fishing and other forms of harvest, are allowed. In contrast, the total no-take area is small in each region. Only 10% of the area within MMAs in the Caribbean region is no-take, whereas less than 0.01% of the area within MMAs in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic prohibit all forms of harvest. Spatial analysis of the location, type, conservation purpose, and protection level within MMAs in the U.S. Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic regions is presented. Patterns and trends in management approaches and distribution of MMAs are compared and contrasted across regions.

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