# Myths, zombies and marine protected areas | Mark Costello | TEDxBodø Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep8grk_qkiY Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/ep8grk_qkiY Generated: 2026-01-30T17:33:34.384+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Mark Costello argues that many widely held beliefs about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are "zombie ideas"—myths that persist despite evidence to the contrary, particularly regarding fishing displacement and economic viability, presenting data showing that fully protected MPAs often increase fishery catches through spillover effects and generate significant tourism revenue. **Key Points:** - 90% of MPAs do not aim to protect marine life, and only 2% of the ocean is fully protected, indicating a large gap between partially protected and fully protected areas. - Evidence from 51 literature examples shows that 90% (46 instances) resulted in fishery benefits (increased catch, body size, or spillover), with zero studies reporting decreased catch due to MPAs. - The myth that fishing effort is displaced outside MPAs is false; global data shows fishing effort actually *decreased* around MPAs due to the 'spillover effect' where fish are caught more quickly nearby. - Fully protected MPAs are not radical, expensive, or detrimental to fishing catch; in fact, fully protected areas often yield better outcomes than partially protected zones. - MPAs provide significant economic benefits through tourism, generating 30 to 50 jobs per MPA, up to $2.7 million from entrance fees, and up to $7 million from scuba diving alone. - Older and larger MPAs provide greater total tourism revenues, demonstrating a positive correlation between MPA age/size and economic benefit. - The speaker advocates for a world network of fully protected Marine Reserves, emphasizing that managing these areas well is crucial for securing food, productive fish stocks, biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable livelihoods. ![Screenshot at 04:50: A slide illustrating the data indicating that fisheries do NOT lose catch due to MPAs, showing that out of 51 examples, 46 reported fishery benefits \(90%\), and zero reported decreased catch.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ep8grk_qkiY/00-04-50.jpg) **Context:** Mark Costello delivers a TEDx talk titled "Myths, Zombies and Marine Protected Areas," challenging common misconceptions about the effectiveness and impact of fully protected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on local fisheries and economies. The presentation uses data visualizations, particularly graphs comparing protected vs. unprotected areas and a summary table of fishery outcomes, to debunk these persistent 'zombie ideas' and advocate for stronger, fully protected marine reserves as a necessary tool for conservation and sustainable resource management. ## Detailed Analysis Mark Costello begins by referencing the common horror movie trope of zombies, equating persistent, incorrect ideas about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to these 'zombie ideas' that refuse to die. He asserts that many beliefs—such as MPAs excluding people, being radical, being expensive, reducing fishing catch, or displacing fisheries—are false. He presents data showing a vast disparity between the amount of partially protected area versus the mere 2% of the ocean that is fully protected. Costello cites a meta-analysis of 51 studies showing that 90% of examples resulted in fishery benefits (increased catch, larger fish, or spillover), with zero studies showing decreased catch due to MPAs. He counters the 'displacement' myth by showing data that fishing effort actually *decreases* around MPAs because fish caught outside the boundaries are larger and reproduce faster due to the spillover effect. Furthermore, he highlights the significant economic benefits of MPAs from tourism, citing examples of job creation (30-50 jobs per MPA) and revenue generation (up to $6.4 billion from one Marine Park, and up to $7 million from scuba diving). He concludes by showing a table that outlines the current 'unprotected' situation (insecure food security, collapsing fish stocks, degraded ecosystems) versus the 'protected' future (secure food security, productive fish stocks, healthy ecosystems), arguing that achieving this positive future requires a global network of fully protected Marine Reserves, despite lobbying efforts against them. ### Introduction to Zombie Ideas - The speaker introduces the concept of 'zombie ideas' regarding MPAs (myths that refuse to die), such as MPAs being expensive or causing displacement of fishing. ### Data on Fishery Impacts - Evidence from 51 studies shows 90% of fully protected MPAs benefit fisheries via increased catch, body size, and spillover; 0% reported decreased catch. ### Debunking Displacement Myth - Global fishery data shows fishing effort *decreases* around MPAs because fish are caught more quickly nearby due to the spillover effect, contradicting the idea that fishing is simply displaced elsewhere. ### Economic Benefits of MPAs - MPAs generate substantial tourism revenue, creating 30-50 jobs per MPA, earning up to $2.7 million in entrance fees, and up to $7 million from scuba diving. ### MPA Age and Revenue - A graph demonstrates that tourism revenue increases logarithmically with the age of the MPA. ### The Path Forward - The speaker contrasts the current unprotected state (e.g., insecure food security, collapsing fish stocks) with a protected future (secure food security, rich biodiversity), asserting that this transition requires a global network of fully protected Marine Reserves. ![Screenshot at 00:04: Aerial view of Bodø, Norway, setting the location for the TEDx event.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ep8grk_qkiY/00-00-04.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:10: Slide displaying the partners of the TEDxBodø event, including Nord University and Bodø 2024 European Capital of Culture.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ep8grk_qkiY/00-00-10.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:19: Mark Costello on stage at TEDxBodø, beginning his presentation titled 'Myths, Zombies and Marine Protected Areas'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ep8grk_qkiY/00-00-19.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:13: Slide showing a world map highlighting established \(blue\) and proposed \(red outlines\) Large-Scale MPAs, noting they cover 4.8% of the ocean.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ep8grk_qkiY/00-04-13.jpg) ![Screenshot at 06:44: Slide summarizing the economic benefits of MPAs for fisheries, showing 90% of examples resulted in positive fishery outcomes.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/ep8grk_qkiY/00-06-44.jpg)