The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (also known as the National Marine Sanctuaries Act) is a comprehensive law designed to deal with ocean resources. The law has three main sections: first, it regulates ocean dumping; second,...

Marine protected areas (MPAs)are marine environments that enjoy certain federal, state, local, or tribal regulation and conservation management programs by virtue of their unique ecosystems and/or cultural resources. Known variously as marine...

any area of the intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment....

The question of whether marine protected areas will work in California waters may be answered in part by a scientific survey of the newly established Cowcod Conservation Areas (CCA) and adjacent waters. To do the research, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)...

Marine protected areas have proven to be economically beneficial. One such benefit comes in the form of job creation which arises from the harvest of renewable and nonrenewable resources such as fish. Another benefit is its enhancement of tourism and recreational activities. Best typifying...

For time beyond memory on this remote bay of neon fish and underwater gardens, people have avoided the "masalai," taboo waters, where a monster octopus might lurk or spirits dwell in coral caves. Now it's science that wants no-go zones in Kimbe Bay, and it's...