MPA Case Studies
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This collection of case studies represents a cross section of the different types of sites listed in the Marine Protected Areas Inventory. The case studies examine the history behind a site's designation as a marine protected area, discuss the techniques used to manage the site's resources, and identify major management issues facing the site. The case studies include two national marine sanctuaries, one managed for its biological value and one for its cultural resources, and a national estuarine research reserve.
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
A special feature of each case study is a narrated slide show that captures the beauty, uses, and management issues associated with each marine protected area. Click on the camera icon ( 
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Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
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The waters and bottom lands of Lake Huron's Thunder Bay were designated as a national marine sanctuary in 2000 to protect the many shipwrecks of the region. In petitioning the state and federal governments to protect this area, residents of the nearby city of Alpena, Michigan recognized the cultural value of these vessels that represent a significant collection of maritime history. However, loss of local control of the area was also a concern of many citizens. These concerns helped to forge a unique management partnership for the newest national marine sanctuary
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Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
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The Florida Keys island chain supports an offshore marine ecosystem that is the most extensive living coral reef in the United States and the third largest barrier reef in the world. The beauty and climate of this region has attracted explorers, settlers, and tourists for centuries. With them came damage to reefs, seagrass beds, water quality and fisheries of the region. A groundswell of public sentiment for protecting the archipelago's offshore reefs culminated in 1990 when an act of Congress designated 2800 square nautical miles of state and federal waters as a national marine sanctuary. Innovative management techniques, such as marine zoning, are at work in the Keys, helping to protect and restore its natural resources.
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South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
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The South Slough of Oregon's Coos Bay estuary benefited from a wave of public sentiment supporting environmental stewardship when it was first designated a national estuarine research reserve in 1974. Some areas surrounding the estuary had been heavily logged at the time, and some wetland areas had been diked. However, supporters of the reserve envisioned the area reverting to a more pristine and natural condition, offering enhanced protection to marine and estuarine species. Since the creation of the reserve, management plans have sought to restrict the most intensive commercial uses and restore natural processes, while ensuring that South Slough is available for public recreational use.
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