Indicator 14.10 Marine protected areas

This indicator measures the extent of marine protected areas (MPAs) in EU marine waters. MPAs are biodiversity ‘hotspots’ and can serve various objectives including species and habitats protection, biodiversity conservation and restoration, but also resource use within defined ecological boundaries. MPAs may also positively impact neighbouring areas.

Indicator is used to monitor progress towards SDG 14 on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine recources for sustainable development which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under ‘Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature’. The indicator can be considered as similar to the global SDG indicator 14.5.1 “Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas”.

The EU Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive aim to maintain or restore a favourable conservation status of protected habitats and species, and safeguard their sustainable use and management. The Habitats Directive aims to contribute towards ensuring biodiversity of the EU, including in the marine environment and lists nine marine habitat types and 16 species for which marine site designation is required, whilst the Birds Directive lists a further 60 bird species whose conservation requires marine site protection. The EU biodiversity strategy aims to protect at least 30% of land and sea in Europe including both nationally designated sites and Natura 2000 sites. Marine protected areas can serve various objectives including species and habitats protection, biodiversity conservation and restoration, but also resource use within defined ecological boundaries. For all MPAs, specific management objectives are set, often consisting of different zones with permitted and non-permitted uses. The EU is also engaged in discussions at the United Nations General Assembly towards an international legally binding agreement on the conservation of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).