Connectivity and Effectiveness of Marine Protected Area on the West Coast of Korea within the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem

Abstract

This review examines the habitat connectivity and effectiveness of Korean Marine Protected Areas(MPAs) in the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) region. We first reemphasize that the Korean side of the YSLEM is a single ecosystem (ecoregion) given the biophysical distribution patterns. The MPA within the YSLEM contributes about 50% of he total MPA in Korea, accounting for about 10% of the territorial sea waters of Korea and 20% of the waters of YSLME on Korean side. A national park contributes nearly 50% of the MPA by area, followed by the wetland protected area at 25%, with the rest of the types of MPA comprising the remaining 30%. Large MPA(>100 km2) is the dominant type of MPA, accounting for 90% by area. We found that MPAs are connected physically and perhaps also genetically. However, freshwater discharge from major rivers is blocked by river-mouth dams, which pose a major hindrance for the physical connectivity of the MPA. The level of protection is low, and a no-take zone is rarely implemented in the MPA. Restoration of the river-mouth dams and strenthened regulation for the MPA should be a priority for better management of its marine resources. Future research and ecosystem monitoring should also be developed or adjusted to quantitatively address the effectiveness of the MPA.