Save the Ocean! Introduction to Marine Protected Areas

This introductory course to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is aimed at students interested in oceanography, marine biology, and coastal management. The topic of MPAs is multidisciplinary and will address environmental issues faced by our oceans, from both a scientific and social perspective.

Students will be provided with pre-class reading, a pre-class activity, and a post-class discussion question. A workbook will be posted in the classroom for students to print and keep for their own study.

The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the concept of MPAs, their importance, and the challenges faced in their implementation and maintenance.  In addition to this, students will be challenged to think critically about the establishment of an MPA and its social and economic impacts through discussion and lecture.

Week 1: What is a Marine Protected Area?
Let’s explore what an MPA is, the common pressures on the marine environment, the importance of protecting the ocean, and how an MPA can do this. This week will provide students with an overview of the current challenges faced by ocean conservationists.

Week 2: How can we protect the ocean?
Each pressure addressed in week one will be explored in greater detail, with options on how we can reduce the pressures for a successful MPA.

Week 3: Establishing an MPA
We will discuss how choices are made when creating MPAs, such as their size, regulations, and goals.

Week 4: A Case Study
Based on the first 3 weeks of classes, students will be guided to build an MPA together. The location will be selected in week 3 as a class.  Before our live lesson, students will be asked to do research on an MPA of their choice to begin thinking critically about protecting the ocean.

Lesson Breakdown 
Each lesson will begin with a quick review of the ideas students cultivated during the online discussion. Then there will be a 25-30 minute slideshow with discussion and questions. For the remaining 15 minutes, we will use a case study to apply the content of the lecture. Finally, I will pose the discussion question and remind students to begin to discuss it on the class discussion board. 

Students taking this course will be supported at all levels. Although having some knowledge of conservation or ecology would be helpful, students are encouraged to ask questions to help understand course content.