Abstract

You have probably heard that the ocean is in trouble. One reason is that we are catching too many fish, which is bad for the fish and the environment. But there is a cool solution to that problem called Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These are special zones in the ocean where fishing is limited. This gives fish a chance to grow and thrive! But some people argue that they are not helpful and make it hard for fisheries. So are there any benefits of MPAs? To find out, we reviewed 81 articles from 37 countries. It turned out that MPAs not only help fish but also fisheries. Near most MPAs, fishermen catch more and find bigger fish. Moreover, MPAs make a lot of money through tourism!