Marine Protected Areas are a powerful management tool that, if designed and implemented well, can result in significant benefits for nature and people. By protecting marine ecosystems from harmful impacts in discrete spatial areas, marine species and habitats can recover and thrive, increasing ecosystem function and resilience so that essential services for the environment and people are maintained or increased. These services can result in multiple benefits for society including socio-economic benefits through improved fisheries, sustainable aquaculture and nature-based tourism supporting local businesses and livelihoods as well as wider social impacts and improved well-being for local communities and stakeholders. Functioning MPAs in the European Union (EU) are critical for the competitiveness and resilience of Member State blue economies.