@article{discovery1547305,
           pages = {665--669},
          volume = {543},
            note = {This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.},
       publisher = {NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP},
           title = {Capacity shortfalls hinder the performance of marine protected areas globally},
            year = {2017},
         journal = {Nature},
           month = {March},
          number = {7647},
             url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature21708},
          author = {Gill, DA and Mascia, MB and Ahmadia, GN and Glew, L and Lester, SE and Barnes, M and Craigie, I and Darling, ES and Free, CM and Geldmann, J and Holst, S and Jensen, OP and White, AT and Basurto, X and Coad, L and Gates, RD and Guannel, G and Mumby, PJ and Thomas, H and Whitmee, S and Woodley, S and Fox, HE},
            issn = {1476-4687},
        abstract = {Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being used globally to conserve marine resources. However, whether many MPAs are being effectively and equitably managed, and how MPA management influences substantive outcomes remain unknown. We developed a global database of management and fish population data (433 and 218 MPAs, respectively) to assess: MPA management processes; the effects of MPAs on fish populations; and relationships between management processes and ecological effects. Here we report that many MPAs failed to meet thresholds for effective and equitable management processes, with widespread shortfalls in staff and financial resources. Although 71\% of MPAs positively influenced fish populations, these conservation impacts were highly variable. Staff and budget capacity were the strongest predictors of conservation impact: MPAs with adequate staff capacity had ecological effects 2.9 times greater than MPAs with inadequate capacity. Thus, continued global expansion of MPAs without adequate investment in human and financial capacity is likely to lead to sub-optimal conservation outcomes.},
        keywords = {Science \& Technology, Multidisciplinary Sciences, Science \& Technology - Other Topics, Social-Ecological Systems, Reserves, Management, Science}
}