Marine protected areas aren’t in the right places to safeguard dolphins and whales in the South Atlantic

Whales have become increasingly common in regions such as the northern coast of São Paulo, which also has heavy ship traffic. Julio Cardoso/Projeto Baleia à Vista

The ocean is under increasing pressure. Everyday human activities, from shipping to oil and gas exploration to urban pollution, are affecting the marine environment. Extensive research shows how this combination of stressors represents one of the greatest threats to marine wildlife, potentially affecting biodiversity on a global scale.

To protect the ocean, one of the primary tools we have is marine protected areas. But are they truly protecting species in the most critical locations?