Marine protected areas and ocean basin management

1. All reserve designs must be guided by an understanding of natural histor y and habitat variability. 2. Differences in scale and predictability set aside highly dynamic pelagic systems from terrestrial and nearshore ecosystems, where wildlife reserves were first implemented. Yet, as in static systems, many pelagic species us e predictable habitats to breed and forage. Marine protected areas (MPAs) c ould be designed to protect these foraging and breeding aggregations. 3. Understanding the physical mechanisms that influence the formation and p ersistence of these aggregations is essential in order to define and implem ent pelagic protected areas. We classify pelagic habitats according to thei r dynamics and predictability into three categories: static, persistent and ephemeral features. 4. While traditional designs are effective in static habitats, many importa nt pelagic habitats are neither fixed nor predictable. Thus, pelagic protec ted areas will require dynamic boundaries and extensive buffers. 5. In addition, the protection of far-ranging pelagic vertebrates will requ ire dynamic MPAs defined by the extent and location of large-scale oceanogr aphic features. 6. Recent technological advances and our ability to implement large-scale c onservation actions will facilitate the implementation of pelagic protected areas. 7. The establishment of pelagic MPAs should include enforcement, research a nd monitoring programmes to evaluate design effectiveness. 8. Ultimately, society will need a holistic management scheme for entire oc ean basins. Such overarching management will rely on many innovative tools, including the judicious use of pelagic MPAs. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.