Marine protected areas (MPA) are important tools used in marine conservation and ecosystem protection strategies at special places throughout the Caribbean.  In addition to the role of MPAs in protecting and restoring declining marine communities and their habitats, ecological connections can extend the strategic importance of MPAs beyond their geographic borders.  The linking of protected areas through their ecological connections and management strategies can create a functional network of conservation actions and allow the protected areas to work in unison to accomplish more than they would if they were ecologically and socially isolated from one another.