WHAT IS AN MPA?
"Marine protected area" is a broad term for a park or other protected area that includes some marine or Great Lakes area. Executive Order 13158 defines an MPA as: "...any area of the marine environment that has been reserved by federal, state, territorial, tribal, or local laws or regulations to provide lasting protection for part or all of the natural and cultural resources therein." Detailed definitions of these terms are outlined in the National System Framework.