The 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report noted that marine ecosystems including the open oceans, coastal seas, and estuaries provide a multitude of services including provision of food, water, building materials, and medicine. Fisheries and associated industries reliant on healthy marine areas provide employment to millions of people.  The marine ecosystems also regulate climate and natural hazard. While valuable provisioning and regulating services are being provided by the marine areas, they are rapidly being degraded worldwide. To restore and sustain the productivity, biodiversity and ecological services of the marine environment, effective conservation tools are needed. Following the broad ecosystem approach to resource conservation and management, the establishment of marine protected areas is considered a key tool that can be used primarily to protect ecological structures and function; establish control sites for scientific research studies; conserve habitat; and protect vulnerable plant or animal species in the marine environment.

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