What are Special Preservation Areas and why were they created?
Special Preservation Areas (SPAs) are discrete, biologically important areas of the Monument. Uses within SPAs are subject to conditions, restrictions, and prohibitions, including but not limited to access restrictions. SPAs are used to avoid concentrations of uses that could result in declines in species populations or habitats, to reduce conflicts between uses, to protect areas that are critical for sustaining important marine species or habitats, or to provide opportunities for scientific research.
