OCEAN CALLS Podcast – Season 3 Ep. 4: Are Marine Protected Areas Working?

In theory, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) allow us to protect the ocean from human activity, conserve nature, and support the local economy - a real win-win for everyone.

But many of them are criticised for being so-called 'paper parks' - meaning although they exist on government maps, in practice, there is little policing and destructive activities like trawling - which involves the use of huge net to collect everything in the water - are still allowed.

So, are Marine Protected Areas working, and what can we do to improve them?

Jeremy Wilks discusses this question with Joachim Claudet, a Senior Researcher and Ocean Advisor at French research organisation CNRS and Dr Purificació Canals, President of MedPAN, which is the network of Marine Protected Area managers in the Mediterranean.

At the end of the episode you hear from Ingrid Newkirk, the founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals about a special ocean creature.

Listen to it in full on Euronews website