Spatial Differentiation Assessment of the Vulnerability of Marine Protected Areas to Oil Spill Stress in the Bohai Sea

Abstract

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are pivotal in safeguarding and preserving global ocean ecosystems. However, oil spills exert both discernible and evident impacts on marine ecosystems and the biodiversity of MPAs. In this research, an environmental model for assessing vulnerability to oil spills was constructed, which amalgamates diverse indicators pertaining to pressure, state, and response capabilities into a unified index. This integration was achieved through the utilization of a geographic information system (GIS) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). For clarity, the Bohai Sea was segmented into seven distinct response zones. The study’s results underscore the substantial spatial disparities in vulnerability when these zones are exposed to oil spills. Notably, zone 6 displayed markedly heightened vulnerability compared to the other zones, while MPAs exhibiting relatively low to extremely low vulnerabilities were primarily situated in the northern sector of zone 7 and across zone 5. This study employed a quantitative vulnerability analysis to offer valuable perspectives on the repercussions of oil spill incidents on MPAs. This emphasizes the necessity of enhancing adaptability to minimize vulnerability, benefiting MPA stakeholders susceptible to the risks associated with oil spills.

Keywords

• marine protected areas
• oil spills
• vulnerability assessment
• geographic information system
• analytic hierarchy process method