The science of European marine reserves: Status, efficacy, and future needs

► The policy background for marine ecosystem protection in Europe is reviewed. ► The status of European marine reserves in terms of geography, numbers and size is quantified. ► The ecological effectiveness of existing European marine reserves is quantified and discussed. ► The ecological and social factors underlying the effectiveness of European reserves are detailed. ► The future science, political and social needs for marine reserve implementation in Europe are discussed.