Worldwide in coverage, this 516-page book reveals the inside story on existing and planned marine protected areas (MPAs), national parks and sanctuaries around the world. It is designed to be a key resource for scientists, research institutions, students, wildlife conservation agencies, MPA managers, and anyone who cares about cetaceans and the special places where they live. Since most of the world's MPAs promote whale and dolphin watching and responsible marine ecotourism, the book is also being used by keen cetacean watchers to find some of the best places to watch the 84 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises in more than 100 countries around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Drawing on a vast knowledge of the world’s whales, Hoyt cuts a clear path through the labyrinth of legislation involved in marine protected areas (MPAs) to create a comprehensive resource for all involved in marine conservation. For the first time, those involved in creating protected areas can gain a global perspective on their local work. It facilitates the sharing of ideas, reveals the glaring gaps and is a call to action. Hoyt transmits an urgency to get on with the task in hand. He sees all MPAs as works in progress with the capacity to improve and change. This book will go a long way towards its aims of promoting the creation of the best possible MPAs for cetaceans. Anyone sharing that aim will find it an invaluable contribution to marine conservation.”

 

 

“In this excellent and definitive book, the author makes clear that Marine Protected Areas, even in the earliest stages of full evaluation, offer a realistic and informed approach to immediate and future marine conservation. This book cuts through the multiplicity of labels attached to areas of protection for marine life and lays bare the precise meaning of each. This is an exhaustively researched, fascinating, thought-provoking and hugely useful book. It is both reference and reading material in one. For those involved in the conservation of cetaceans it must already be a compulsory handbook and for the lay reader it is a revealing and readable account of the considerable progress of our conservation experts and of the huge task still ahead. A massive achievement marking a milestone in marine protection.” Overall Rating: ***** (5 stars) — Rachel Saward, in Amazon.com review

 

“Multiple strategies are needed to reverse the decline of whales and dolphins, and one of these is creating protected areas for them. Renowned writer and leading authority on whale watching Erich Hoyt takes us on a fascinating journey across the complex and uncharted world of protected areas for cetaceans. This highly informative book will become a source of inspiration and understanding for the decision-maker as well as for the lay person, and an exhaustive repository of information and references for the specialist.”— Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Deputy chairman, IUCN/SSC Cetacean Specialist Group and, founder, Tethys Research Institute, Italy

 

 

 

“For many years, Erich Hoyt has been a leader amongst the conservation community….His award-winning books, which cover topics from ants to whales, act as sign-posts showing the way for the environmentalists of our age. His marine conservation work has focused mainly on whales, including evaluations of whale watching. Here, however, as the title tells us, he takes an in-depth look at marine protected areas. These MPAs have become a central theme of modern marine conservation efforts and a critical look at them is more than timely. He examines the guiding concepts in details and also provides details of the relevant MPAs in each region of the world. It is clear that considerable research has gone into what is presented making this a reference book of significant merit. It is a book for everyone with a serious interest in marine conservation and/or whales and dolphins and, once again, Hoyt has put in place a seminal work that will be widely cited and quoted for many years to come.” Overall rating, ***** (five stars) — Mark Simmonds, Director of Science, WDCS, reviewing on Amazon.co.uk

 

 

“Hoyt makes clear that Marine Protected Areas offer a realistic and informed approach to immediate and future marine conservation. The science and logistics are complex, but the theory behind MPAs is simple. It's a holistic approach to conservation in which single factors are considered cumulatively, rather than individually. So for example, the effects of all human activities in one area (say, fishing, recreational boating and waste management) are considered all together, not just for one particular species but on the entire local ecosystem, from whale to coral reef to microorganism. The emphasis is strongly on the management of human activities.”

— Howard Garrett, Orca Network

 

“This authoritative handbook…is testimony to the substantial on-going efforts to implement the relatively new and bridging field of MPAs for cetacean species and habitats. [For Indonesia], the handbook is also a timely reminder that more MPAs are clearly needed…to ensure protective management.”

 

 

“Expertly written account of…a neglected and pressing issue. This first of its kind reference work, is of immense value to everyone who busies themselves with whale and dolphin conservation, and should be in the hands of every policy maker.” — American Cetacean Society newsletter, Puget Sound chapter

 

“There is much to recommend in this book. It has a great deal of information about all manner of marine protected areas. In addition it offers masses of data about cetacean location, the range of conservation measures available and the laws that exist. Much of these data are in table form making it easy to compare options. It would add considerably to any conservation or marine study and should be seriously considered for such. Target Readership: Senior Secondary. Overall Rating: **** (4 stars) — Paul S Ganderton, Book Review Editor, British Ecological Society, Teaching Ecology Group,