The Marine Biologist Podcast

An illusion of protection? Marine Protected Areas with Professor Callum Roberts

The Marine Biological Association Season 5 Episode 1

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0:00 | 37:15

"We need to consider what an area of sea is capable of when given real protection."

Professor Callum Roberts is a world authority on marine protected areas (MPAs). In this podcast, we talk about marine protected areas both in national waters and the high seas.

What needs to change in the UK's current approach to marine protected areas (MPAs), and how can the network support healthy and productive fisheries, producing gains, not just costs for the fishing industry? 

To have a vision for future seas, we have to look back: this is where the conversation turns to shifting baselines and a fascinating look at the momentous changes that have been wrought on the seabed of the Northeast Atlantic over the past 200 years.

We also discuss the growing awareness of seabed carbon and the role of MPAs in supporting climate regulation.

Callum is also an author, perhaps best known for The Unnatural History of the Sea (Island Press) which charts the effects of 1,000 years of exploitation on ocean life.

See also:

convexseascapesurvey.com

The Convex Seascape Survey project is dedicated to filling knowledge gaps on how the ocean and climate are connected, to inform effective action against the climate crisis. 

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