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3. Where are marine protected areas located?

**Where are marine protected areas located?**  Marine protected areas **span a range of habitats**, including the open ocean, coastal areas, intertidal zones, estuaries, and the Great Lakes. Marine protected area*Marine protected areas are defined areas where human activities are managed to protect important natural or cultural resources.* There are approximately 1,000 marine protected areas, or MPAs, located throughout the United States. The largest protected area is located in the remote Pacific, home of two of the largest marine conservation areas in the world: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Pacific Remote Marine National Monument. MPAs serve to protect coastal and ocean habitats and species, while providing recreational opportunities. NOAA's  national marine sanctuaries  form one component of the MPA network. There are sanctuary sites in areas ranging from American Samoa to Stellwagen Bank off  Cape Cod in Massachusetts. MPAs also includenational estuarine research reserves, which protect valuable coastal habitat through a national network for research, education, and stewardship. Several MPAs are also located within the Great Lakes,  created to protect cultural resources such as shipwrecks and historical artifacts. One example of a Great Lakes MPA is the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which protects more than  150 shipwrecks.  MPAs may also include national wildlife refuges, national parks, and  state-managed areas. As MPAs experience climate impacts, managing the connections between them is increasingly important. A report by the National MPA Center describes steps toward building effective conservation networks through existing and new MPAs for a more resilient and healthier ocean.
 More **Information** Office of National Marine Sanctuaries   Get **Social** Social
  **Last updated:** 09/21/23 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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