Fully implemented marine protected areas which are either "highly protected"--only very light extraction is allowed, and all abatable impacts are minimized to protect biodiversity--or "fully protected"--no extractive or destructive activities are allowed.

Implemented Fully and Highly Protected Areas

Existing or designated marine protected areas where prohibitions on fishing and other extractive activities are not yet in effect.

Planned Fully and Highly Protected Areas

Where boundaries are not available, points indicate the locations of officially designated parks, reserves, and other formal conservation areas around the world that have a substantial marine component. The authors caution that the absence of a management category does not in any way reduce the importance of a protected area, nor does it imply that the site is not being adequately managed or should be excluded from analyses.

Marine Protected Areas (points)

Boundaries of officially designated parks, reserves, and other formal conservation areas around the world that have a substantial marine component. The authors caution that the absence of a management category does not in any way reduce the importance of a protected area, nor does it imply that the site is not being adequately managed or should be excluded from analyses.

Marine Protected Areas (polygons)

A record of global coral reef locations. This layer masks areas that are more than 10 kilometers from known coral reefs. Coral reef locations were compiled from data sources between 1954-2018.

2018 Coral Reef Locations (Mask)

A record of global coral reef locations. Coral reef locations were compiled from data sources between 1954-2018.

Legend