What is permitted within the MPA?

There are strong cultural connections with the sea and it plays an important part in the recreation and diets of the island community. However, the ocean around Ascension still sees little human activity and what does occur is mostly concentrated within a few miles of the island.

For that reason, protection of the MPA required only a small number of activities to be prohibited or restricted through legislation and these are described below. The activities that continue to take place within the MPA are also described along with a summary of the regulations or policies in place to ensure they do not damage the MPA. If new activities are proposed in the future, then existing powers within the National Protected Areas Ordinance allow for the introduction of new regulations restricting or prohibiting activities to ensure the MPA is protected. Any new regulations would be discussed with the Ascension Island Council and require approval from the Governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.