Marine Reserve

A marine reserve is a highly protected marine protected area where extractive and damaging activities are prohibited, the strictest tier on the protection spectrum. Fishing, mining, dredging, and other resource extraction are barred, allowing ecosystems to recover toward natural structure and biomass. Marine reserves map to the strictest IUCN protected-area categories (Ia strict nature reserve and II national park) and function as full no-take zones. Evidence shows higher fish biomass, larger individuals, and spillover of larvae and adults to surrounding fished waters. Reserves anchor 30x30 commitments where effective, equitable, and enforced against illegal fishing.