Inventory of Marine Managed
Areas in the United States
The Marine Managed Areas (MMA) Inventory contains information
on more than 1,500 sites, and is the only such comprehensive dataset
in the nation. The term “marine managed area,” which
was defined through a public comment process, generally refers
broadly to an area of the marine environment with a marine resource
conservation purpose. To read the complete set of MMA criteria,
click here.
The MMA Inventory data collection is a joint collaboration between
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and
the Department of the Interior that began in 2001. Its purpose
is to gather and make publicly available comprehensive information
on place-based marine conservation efforts under U.S. federal,
state, territorial, local, and tribal jurisdiction.
Status of the Inventory
As of August 2006, data has been collected from most federal,
state, and territorial agencies and programs and made publicly
available through the Explore the Inventory website. Several states
have chosen not to participate in the inventory. Some state and
federal programs are still in the process of collecting and/or
verifying their information. In addition, an effort to work with
tribes to consider including tribal sites in the inventory is
underway.
This first of its kind comprehensive inventory of federal, state,
and territorial MMA sites provides governments and stakeholders
with access to information to make better decisions about the
current and future use of place-based conservation. The information
also will be used to inform the development of the national
system of marine protected areas as required by Executive
Order 13158. For more information on how the MMA Inventory
will be used to develop the national system, click
here.
Preliminary Analysis of Data in the Marine Managed Areas
Inventory
In 2006, the MPA Center began to analyze the MMA data collected
for the inventory. Here are some of the results of the preliminary
analysis:
- There are more than 1,500 MMAs established in the United
States, managed by more than 100 government agencies.
- Most MMA sites (90 percent) permit multiple uses, such as
fishing and boating.
- While federal sites are larger, the majority of sites are
established and managed by state agencies.
- Most MMA sites are permanent and provide year-round protection.
- The majority of existing MMAs were established after 1970.
You can read more about the MMA analysis by clicking here.
Search
the Inventory
You can search
the inventory database using a variety of parameters, or you can
simply choose to download a standard report by subject. For those
seeking more advanced options, you can use ARC GIS to create layered
maps using site information.
Learn more about the Marine Managed Areas inventory here.
For questions or comments about the MMA inventory, please write
to mpainventory@noaa.gov.
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