Contributor: National Marine Protected Areas Center

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The National Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center's mission is to facilitate the effective use of science, technology, training, and information in the planning, management, and evaluation of the nation's system of marine protected areas. The Center's goals include the development of a framework for a national system of marine protected areas, the improvement of MPA stewardship and effectiveness and the facilitation of national and regional coordination of MPA activities.

The National MPA Center was established in 2000. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of the Interior implement MPA Executive Order 13158 through the National MPA Center. The MPA Center is located within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the Department of Commerce.

The MPA Center headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland develops operational and program policy; supports the MPA Federal Advisory Committee; manages national, regional, and international MPA coordination; conducts outreach and education; consults with federal agencies, state agencies, tribal agencies, Fishery Management Councils, and others; maintains the U.S. MPA website; and oversees the collection of data for the marine managed areas inventory.

E-mail: MPA
URL: National MPA Center Homepage