World Heritage Sites are iconic, internationally recognized protected areas which are of outstanding universal value. As of 2008, 199 of these sites are recognised for their natural values, and of these 35 Marine World Heritage Sites are included as MPAs for significant marine biodiversity or ecosystem values.

Introduction

Aldabra from the air
Camerapix
The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed as the first marine World Heritage Site in 1981. It has remained the largest World Heritage site protecting 34,870,000 ha, with the Galapagos Islands being the second largest World Heritage Site at 14,066,514 ha, of which 13,300,000 ha is the marine park. The most recent sites inscribed for their marine values are the Lagoons of New Caledonia (France) and Socotra Archipelago (Yemen). Other World Heritage Sites protecting significant marine biodiversity and marine ecosystem processes, amongst the top 40 largest World Heritage sites, include Kluane / Wrangell – St Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (Canada and USA), Shark Bay (Australia), Banc d’Arguin National Park (Mauritania), Natural System of Wrangel Island (Russia), and Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (Colombia).

Threats to Marine World Heritage

Marine World Heritage Sites face many threats, including from pollution, uncontrolled development and illegal and unregulated fishing. Examples of these threats include oil spills in the Banc d’Arguin, and illegal dredging and clearing in the Belize Barrier Reef. Illegal or uncontrolled fisheries require careful monitoring and expensive surveillance in Galápagos, Malpelo, Cocos Island, Banc d’Arguin, and Tubbataha Reef. Climate change and associated increased sea temperatures also threaten coral reefs from bleaching and the functioning of other marine ecosystems.

Managing oceanic ecosystems

Another challenge facing marine World Heritage is the protection of oceanic marine ecosystems. Most oceanic and deep sea life falls outside the political jurisdiction of nations. Lord Howe World Heritage Site in Australia, inscribed in 1982 as “a remarkable example of isolated oceanic islands” is home to endemic and pelagic fish, and threatened marine mammals. Although not currently recognised for deep sea life, the islands drop rapidly many hundred of meters to the seabed within the World Heritage marine protected area, providing protection to unidentified organisms. Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll off the coast of Brazil, was inscribed in 2006 and serves as another example of a World Heritage property protecting deep sea and oceanic ecosystems, including seamounts. It was recognised as “an oasis of marine life in relatively barren, open ocean,” important for the distribution and life cycle of marine organisms in the Tropical South Atlantic; a key site for the protection of biodiversity and endangered species. Another property providing protection to oceanic ecosystems is the Gulf of California World Heritage property in Mexico, which includes the Cabo San Lucas Reserve, protecting a deep submarine canyon with spectacular submarine sand cascades, extending from 15m below sea level to 2000m. Such World Heritage sites offer an opportunity to protect species and ecosystems that are vulnerable to unregulated high seas activities such as fishing and pollution from shipping.

Links

Marine World Heritage Programme (significant marine World Heritage)
http://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/17/

Marine World Heritage Programme (related marine World Heritage)
http://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/18/

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/

The Charles Darwin Foundation
http://www.darwinfoundation.org/en/

Belize Barrier Reef
http://www.coastalzonebelize.org/prog05.html

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