Fifth international marine protected areas congress (impac5) concludes in vancouver, canada.

• IMPAC5 is a global forum that brings together ocean conservation professionals and high-level officials to inform, inspire and act on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
• It aims to protect 30 percent of global ocean by 2030 2030 (i.e., 30*30 campaign).
• It supported Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, “Our Ocean, Our Future, Our Responsibility” Call for Action and Ocean Conservation Pledge.
• It was jointly hosted by Host First Nations (Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh) together with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPWS), Government of Canada and Province of British Columbia.

About

• IMPAC congresses are a collaborative effort between the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the chosen host country.
• The congress brings together scientists, policy makers, practitioners, and stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest scientific knowledge, best practices and challenges in the management of MPAs.
• The goal of IMPAC is to advance the conservation and sustainable use of the world’s marine biodiversity and to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s goals for marine conservation and management.

Marine Protected Areas

• MPAs are designated areas of the ocean that are set aside for the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems and their biodiversity.
• Within the region, certain activities are limited, or entirely prohibited, to meet specific conservation, habitat protection, ecosystem monitoring or fisheries management objectives.
• MPAs do not necessarily exclude fishing, research or other human activities; in fact, many MPAs are multi-purpose areas.
• Currently, an estimated 7.65% of ocean is covered by MPAs.
• Important MPAs (coastal or marine) of India.
  • They are notified as either ‘national parks’ or ‘wildlife sanctuaries’ under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • MPAs cover less than 4.01% of the total area of all Protected Areas of India.
  • Examples of important MPAs in India: Gulf of Kachchh Marine National Park, Gulf of Mannar National Park, Sundarbans National Park and Wandoor Marine National Park.
  • Need of MPAs
    • Protect marine habitats and variety of life that they support.
    • Raising the profile of an area for marine tourism and broadening local economic options.
    • Generate income through tourism and sustainable fishing.
    • Maintaining climate change resilience as it protects coastal habitats to reduce human vulnerability.