Johnson quoted by National Geographic on Aspen Environment Forum
Ayana Johnson, a marine biologist and director of science and solutions for the Waitt Foundation, pointed out that marine protected areas cover only 1% of the ocean’s surface, and even in those places enforcement of restrictions on fishing “can be a problem.”
Johnson said her group has been working with local communities near marine protected areas to help them better safeguard and manage the resources. These safe zones provide critical habitat to many animals, many of which range far outside the protected areas and form part of the backbone of ocean ecosystems.
“Small-scale, artisanal fisheries have a great opportunity to be sustainable,” Johnson added. She pointed out that seafood protein remains a critical part of the diet of many people in developing areas, and that protecting sustainable fisheries is an issue of food security.