Conclusion

Abstract

This book is a critical analysis of the major controversy that has gripped marine governance during the last 20 years—the vexed issue of marine reserves (MRs). Much of the book has concentrated on assessing the credentials of one side of this controversy—the nature protectionist (NP) argument in favour of MRs—because it was responsible for the most extraordinary speed with which marine protected areas (MPAs) rose up the academic agenda to become the most discussed policy measure in the scientific fisheries literature across the globe in recent years. The book also analysed the growing opposition to the NP perspective in the shape of the social conservationist (SC) argument, which is not opposed to selective siting of MRs, but rejects indiscriminate or blanket designations of networks of MRs based on flimsy data.