Exploring spatial similarity and performance among marine protected area planning scenarios: The case of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica

The world's oceans are exposed to a variety of pressures, such as overfishing and the environmental effects increasingly dense coastal populations. Policy science agree that global network marine protected areas (MPAs) will mitigate these effects. Conservation planners face dual challenge planning MPAs based on complex scientific information supporting decision-making process through clear transparent communication with involved stakeholders. To this end, visual comparisons different mapped reserve configurations commonly used approach, while analytical approaches assess efficiency scenarios trade-offs among them still rarely in practice. Here, we use uni- multivariate statistics compare designing Weddell Sea MPA (WSMPA) Antarctica. We show target level settings (low, medium, mixed) for conservation features affect configuration solutions significantly. mixed-target scenario was one most flexible ones it produced diverse set solutions, providing several options consideration. At same time, also well balanced scenario, finding relatively cost-efficient selecting an intermediate number units were spatially clustered. Our study complements qualitative sensitivity analysis carried out previously (mainly visual, descriptive comparisons) hopefully further advance WSMPA development under CCAMLR. Furthermore, paper adds growing literature advocating application thorough systematic evaluation procedures planning. • Planning area (MPA) Sea, Use investigate performance spatial scenarios. Targets significantly MARXAN solutions. Complements conducted MPA. Adds support continued proposal