Marine protected areas

Professor Roberts has been studying the function and theory of marine reserves since 1991. During this time he has been a member of two groups working to develop a theory of reserves, synthesise what is known about them and identify what we still need to find out. The Marine Reserves Working Group at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (headed by Jane Luchenco, Steve Palumbi and Steve Gaines) is primarily concerned with developing the theory, while the U.S. National Research Council Committee on Evaluation, Design and Monitoring of Marine Reserves is mainly charged with synthesizing information and identifying research priorities. Work with these groups is helping to push forward both the science of reserves, and the prospects for implementing them.