scholarly journals Strengths and limitations of before–after–control–impact analysis for testing the effects of marine protected areas on managed populations

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 1039-1051
Author(s):  
Lisa A Kerr ◽  
Jacob P Kritzer ◽  
Steven X Cadrin
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Marine Resources ◽  
Focal Species ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Management Approaches

Abstract Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a common management strategy for conserving marine resources, but it can be challenging to evaluate their effectiveness for meeting management objectives. Measuring the effectiveness of MPAs is particularly challenging in dynamic and changing environments where other management approaches are simultaneously implemented. Before–after–control–impact (BACI) analysis is a tool that offers a simple and robust design for evaluating complex effects. However, design and interpretation of a BACI analysis is not always straightforward. The goal of this study was to explore the potential for BACI to evaluate MPA performance in a system simultaneously impacted by other management measures and environmental change. We develop a typology of interpretations of BACI results based on the main and interaction effects of the model, categorized by the extent to which dynamics inside and outside of the MPA are independent. Furthermore, we examine how decisions about the spatial and temporal design of the study, and the focal species and response variables, can determine which outcomes from within the typology are evident through BACI applications to New England groundfish area closures. We identify strengths and limitations of the BACI approach and demonstrate that BACI is a valuable but imperfect tool for evaluating MPAs.

scholarly journals Conservation and fisheries effects of spawning aggregation marine protected areas: What we know, where we should go, and what we need to get there

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1515-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Grüss ◽  
Jan Robinson ◽  
Selina S. Heppell ◽  
Scott A. Heppell ◽  
Brice X. Semmens
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Fish Spawning ◽  
Spawning Stock ◽  
Modelling Studies

Abstract There is a global trend in the depletion of transient reef fish spawning aggregations (“FSAs”), making them a primary target for management with marine protected areas (MPAs). Here, we review the observed and likely effectiveness of FSA MPAs, discuss how future studies could fill knowledge gaps, and provide recommendations for MPA design based on species' life history and behaviour, enforcement potential, and management goals. Modelling studies indicate that FSA MPAs can increase spawning-stock biomass and normalize sex ratio in protogynous fish populations, unless fishing mortality remains high outside protected FSA sites and spawning times. In the field, observations of no change or continued decline in spawning biomass are more common than population recovery. When empirical studies suggest that FSA MPAs may not benefit fish productivity or recovery, extenuating factors such as insufficient time since MPA creation, poor or lack of enforcement, inadequate design, and poorly defined management objectives are generally blamed rather than failure of the MPA concept. Results from both the empirical and modelling literature indicate that FSA MPAs may not improve exploitable biomass and fisheries yields; however, investigations are currently too limited to draw conclusions on this point. To implement effective FSA MPAs, additional modelling work, long-term monitoring programmes at FSA sites, and collections of fisheries-dependent data are required, with greater attention paid to the design and enforcement of area closures. We recommend a harmonized, adaptive approach that combines FSA MPA design with additional management measures to achieve explicitly stated objectives. Conservation objectives and, therefore, an overall reduction in mortality rates should be targeted first. Fisheries objectives build on conservation objectives, in that they require an overall reduction in mortality rates while maintaining sufficient access to exploitable biomass. Communication among researchers, regulatory agencies, park authorities, and fishers will be paramount for effective action, along with significant funds for implementation and enforcement.

scholarly journals Habitat collapse due to overgrazing threatens turtle conservation in marine protected areas

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1777) ◽  
pp. 20132890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolijn J. A. Christianen ◽  
Peter M. J. Herman ◽  
Tjeerd J. Bouma ◽  
Leon P. M. Lamers ◽  
Marieke M. van Katwijk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Protected Species ◽  
Prevailing Paradigm ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Imminent Threat

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key tools for combatting the global overexploitation of endangered species. The prevailing paradigm is that MPAs are beneficial in helping to restore ecosystems to more ‘natural’ conditions. However, MPAs may have unintended negative effects when increasing densities of protected species exert destructive effects on their habitat. Here, we report on severe seagrass degradation in a decade-old MPA where hyper-abundant green turtles adopted a previously undescribed below-ground foraging strategy. By digging for and consuming rhizomes and roots, turtles create abundant bare gaps, thereby enhancing erosion and reducing seagrass regrowth. A fully parametrized model reveals that the ecosystem is approaching a tipping point, where consumption overwhelms regrowth, which could potentially lead to complete collapse of the seagrass habitat. Seagrass recovery will not ensue unless turtle density is reduced to nearly zero, eliminating the MPA's value as a turtle reserve. Our results reveal an unrecognized, yet imminent threat to MPAs, as sea turtle densities are increasing at major nesting sites and the decline of seagrass habitat forces turtles to concentrate on the remaining meadows inside reserves. This emphasizes the need for policy and management approaches that consider the interactions of protected species with their habitat.

scholarly journals Introduction: an empirical framework for deconstructing the realities of governing marine protected areas

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter JS Jones ◽  
Elizabeth M De Santo ◽  
Wanfei Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
International Workshop ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Governance Strategies ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Empirical Framework

Debates surrounding governance strategies for marine protected areas (MPAs) have to date largely focused on top-down, bottom-up or market-based approaches. Whilst co-management approaches for governing MPAs are widely accepted as a way forward for combining these three strategies, many interpretations of this concept exist and it is applied in many different ways in MPAs in different contexts. This study aimed to explore governance through a case-study approach based on a specifically developed empirical framework – the marine protected area governance (MPAG) analysis framework – to increase understanding of how to combine the three governance approaches. A dialogue with MPA practitioners in 20 case studies helped shape the MPAG analysis framework as it developed, and an international workshop was held on ‘Governing MPAs’, bringing the practitioners together to compare results and further develop the framework. This paper provides an overview of the topic and research methodology and briefly introduces the case studies further explored in this special issue

scholarly journals Perception of threats and related management measures: The case of 32 marine protected areas in West Africa

Marine Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 117 ◽  
pp. 103936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Failler ◽  
Grégoire Touron-Gardic ◽  
Benjamin Drakeford ◽  
Oumar Sadio ◽  
Marie-Suzanne Traoré
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Management Measures

scholarly journals Securing Minimum Protection Standards for Canada’s Marine Protected Areas

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryann Watson
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Industrial Activities ◽  
Degree Of Protection ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Marine Protection ◽  
The Government ◽  
Government Of Canada ◽  
Marine Areas

In 2015, the Government of Canada committed to protecting 5% of marine and coastal areas by 2017, and 10% by 2020. While admirable progress towards this target has been made, less attention has been given to improving the quality of protection afforded to marine areas. Extensive scientific study supports that several factors are critical to the success of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for marine biodiversity conservation and management objectives, including no-take areas and prohibitions on extractive and industrial activities. However, the majority of Canada’s MPAs allow extractive uses within their boundaries. As Canada works toward international and national commitments to marine protection targets, it is critical to consider the degree of protection afforded by the legal designations used to create these areas. This paper reviews the current inconsistent standards of protection across marine protected areas (MPAs) designated under the Oceans Act, Canada’s flagship legislation for marine protection. Recommended amendments to the law include standards of protection that would exclude all extractive industrial activities from MPAs in order to better guide the designation and decision-making processes for marine protection.

Marine Protected Areas in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drankier Petra
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Regional Interaction ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Balance Of Interests ◽  
National Jurisdiction ◽  
One Step

Abstract Marine protected areas (MPAs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) are embedded in a number of multilateral frameworks. The present report discusses how various global and regional conventions deal with MPAs in their regulatory frameworks, such as their processes and guidelines for the identification and designation of MPAs in ABNJ, and cross-sectoral issues. It is concluded that the designation of MPAs is one step, but it needs to be followed by effective management measures in order to prevent that MPAs, especially multi-purpose MPAs, only exist on paper for many years. Such measures are mostly sector-specific and thus often fall under the competences of various organizations that have their own individual criteria and balance of interests. The report concludes by providing recommendations to overcome obstacles in cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination, as well as on how to combine global and regional interaction.

Marine Protected Areas in Fiji: a critical assessment of ‘Community Fisheries Management and Development Plans’ as a mechanism for formalising customary MPAs, in particular LMMAs

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-100
Author(s):  
Emily Long
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Marine Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
Development Plans ◽  
Community Fisheries ◽  
Marine Areas

Fiji's National Government has committed to using Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect its marine environment. As Fiji is in the process of reforming its marine law, now is an opportune time to develop statutory mechanisms for establishing and regulating MPAs. This article considers the regulation of MPAs in Fiji's coastal waters—where the intersection of statutory and customary law poses particular challenges. ‘Customary MPAs’ already exist in Fiji's coastal environments, taking the form of tabu areas and ‘Locally Managed Marine Areas’ (LMMAs). Both of these are important mechanisms that any new statutory framework should incorporate and strengthen. In 2010, the draft Inshore Fisheries Decree (draft Inshore Decree) was prepared. Although the draft Inshore Decree appears to have stalled, it may yet be progressed to a final bill. Alternatively, some of the measures in it may be incorporated into another law. This article assesses one mechanism in the draft Inshore Decree that could be used to formalize customary MPAs—Community Fisheries Management and Development Plans (CFMDPs). It finds that CFMDPs demonstrate a number of strengths, in particular by supporting legal recognition of existing marine management measures. However, there are also weaknesses. Nevertheless, with refinement CFMDPs may be a useful tool for regulating Fiji's coastal MPAs.

scholarly journals Comparing the Performance of Protected and Unprotected Areas in Conserving Freshwater Fish Abundance and Biodiversity in Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Andrew Sweke ◽  
Julius Michael Assam ◽  
Abdillahi Ismail Chande ◽  
Athanasio Stephano Mbonde ◽  
Magnus Mosha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Lake Tanganyika ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Fish Abundance ◽  
Mahale Mountains National Park ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Management Approaches

Marine protected areas have been shown to conserve aquatic resources including fish, but few studies have been conducted of protected areas in freshwater environments. This is particularly true of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania. To better conserve the lake’s biodiversity, an understanding of the role played by protected areas in conserving fish abundance and diversity is needed. Sampling of fish and environmental parameters was performed within the Mahale Mountains National Park (MMNP) and nearby unprotected areas at depths between 5 m and 10 m. Twelve replicates of fish sampling were performed at each site using gillnets set perpendicularly to the shore. Mann-Whitney tests were performed, and the total amount of species turnover was calculated. A total of 518 individual fish from 57 species were recorded in the survey. The fish weight abundance was fivefold greater in the MMNP than in the unprotected areas. Fish abundance and diversity were higher in the MMNP than in the unprotected areas and decreased with distance from it. Our findings confirmed the importance of the protected area in conserving fish resources in Lake Tanganyika. The study provides baseline information for management of the resources and guiding future studies in the lake and other related ecosystems. Management approaches that foster awareness and engage with communities surrounding the MMNP are recommended for successful conservation of the resources in the region.

scholarly journals A Management Strategy for Sedentary Nearshore Species that Uses Marine Protected Areas as a Reference

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jono R. Wilson ◽  
Jeremy D. Prince ◽  
Hunter S. Lenihan
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Management Strategy
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