This scientific article focuses on the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in maritime policies within the EU. It highlights the lack of comprehensive analyses of regulations in EU MPAs, specifically regarding the management of nine different activities. The authors use publicly available data to show that there are significant gaps in the information about the regulation of these activities in MPAs. For most activities, regulations were known for 40% or less of the MPA area, except for fishing, which had more information available (70% of the area). The article discusses the challenges related to incomplete data, insufficient coordination between various stakeholders, and difficulties in translating legal information into actionable policies. The authors suggest improvements for better data collection, standardization, and policy development for environmental management in MPAs.
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