Sri Lakshmi Ajit
Marine protected areas have long been recognized as effective tools for spatial management, biodiversity conservation, and fisheries enhancement, prompting Member States Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to agree in 2010 to cover 10% of their coastal and marine areas with MPAs by 2020 (Aichi Target 11). Even though global no-take coverage of at least 30% of the world's oceans by 2030 is required, MPAs will cover 5.3 percent of the world's oceans in 2020, with 2.5 percent in no-take marine reserves providing protection. Despite the fact that the 10% objective has not been attained, the number of MPAs established has increased exponentially over the last decade as governments hurry to meet their international obligations, resulting in increased disputes with small-scale fisheries (SSF) despite the fact that many MPAs allow SSF and other operations in partial protection zones or even the entire MPA, and other stakeholders in coastal areas.