Marine predator spatial conservation priorities are taxon-specific

Abstract

AbstractMarine predators are globally threatened by anthropogenic stressors, but are key for ecosystem functioning. Their worsening conservation statuses indicate that current management is failing, requiring us to urgently reimagine their conservation needs to ensure their survival. Their life histories, threats, and resource needs are diverse. Consequently, spatial conservation areas targeting all species will overlook such heterogeneity, contributing to the problem. Here, we demonstrate that marine mammals, elasmobranchs and teleost fishes return drastically different spatial conservation priority areas, based on Marxan scenarios for 42 marine predator species in the Mediterranean Sea. None of the marine predators are sufficiently covered by the current marine protected area (MPA) system, with marine mammals being the least protected despite having the greatest designated MPA extent, highlighting disconnects between conservation goals and current management outcomes. To save marine predators, taxon specific ecological requirements and resulting spatial heterogeneity need to be accounted for in marine spatial planning.