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Publication year : 0
Thematic : Marine Protected Areas
Language : English
Note
Marine reserves are being established worldwide in response to a growing
recognition of the conservation crisis that is building in the oceans. However, designation
of reserves has been largely opportunistic, or protective measures have been implemented
(often overlapping and sometimes in conflict) by different entities seeking to achieve different
ends. This has created confusion among both users and enforcers, and the proliferation
of different measures provides a false sense of protection where little is offered. This paper
sets out a procedure grounded in current understanding of ecological processes, that allows
the evaluation and selection of reserve sites in order to develop functional, interconnected
networks of fully protected reserves that will fulfill multiple objectives. By fully protected
we mean permanently closed to fishing and other resource extraction. We provide a framework
that unifies the central aims of conservation and fishery management, while also
meeting other human needs such as the provision of ecosystem services (e.g., maintenance
of coastal water quality, shoreline protection, and recreational opportunities). In our scheme,
candidate sites for reserves are evaluated against 12 criteria focused toward sustaining the
biological integrity and productivity of marine systems at both local and regional scales.
While a limited number of sites will be indispensable in a network, many will be of similar
value as reserves, allowing the design of numerous alternative, biologically adequate networks.
Devising multiple network designs will help ensure that ecological functionality is
preserved throughout the socioeconomic evaluation process. Too often, socioeconomic criteria
have dominated the process of reserve selection, potentially undermining their efficacy.
We argue that application of biological criteria must precede and inform socioeconomic
evaluation, since maintenance of ecosystem functioning is essential for meeting all of the
goals for reserves. It is critical that stakeholders are fully involved throughout this process.
Application of the proposed criteria will lead to networks whose multifunctionality will
help unite the objectives of different management entities, so accelerating progress toward
improved stewardship of the oceans.
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Keywords : Apomys musculus
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
