The Darwin Mounds special area of conservation: Implications for offshore marine governance

As the first offshore marine protected area (MPA) designated in the United Kingdom (UK), the Darwin Mounds area of cold-water coral provides a unique opportunity for examining MPA governance in offshore waters, i.e. beyond the territorial sea (12 nautical miles (nm)) but within Exclusive Economic or Fishing Zones (EEZs or EFZs, out to 200 nm). Whilst the Darwin Mounds Special Area of Conservation (SAC) represents a unique case study for offshore marine conservation, both in terms of circumstances and legal precedence, it also provides lessons for future MPA designations in offshore waters. As Member States of the European Union embark on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) throughout their EEZs/EFZs, understanding the governance framework and potential opportunities and challenges in the offshore zone will become increasingly important for achieving marine conservation objectives in the face of competing economic interests and overlapping jurisdictions.

► Offshore MPAs require a strong regulatory basis and financial commitment.
► Compromise on the extent and size of offshore closures is often required.
► Transparency in the policy process is reduced for offshore MPAs.
► Overlapping MPA jurisdictions/designations do not guarantee effectiveness.
► High seas conservation should not overlook offshore areas within EEZs/EFZs.