An evaluation of the social and economic impact of a Marine Protected Area on commercial fisheries

Value of coastal habitats to commercial fisheries in Jersey, English Channel, and the role of marine protected areas

“…When economic values and livelihoods become part of the discussion with regard to MPAs, motivations for protecting benthic habitats become more tangible as a fisheries benefit. MPAs will consequently gain commercial support from those most likely to benefit from management that ensures sustainability (Rees et al, 2021a,b).…”

“…A novel social‐ecological mixed methods approach was used to determine how marine habitats in Jersey contributed to value of commercial fisheries and the extent to which life history stages of key commercial species were protected by Marine Protected Areas. Previous studies focussed on the socio‐economic impact of MPAs within a fisheries management context have assessed changes to fisher well‐being (Rees et al, 2013), landings and spatial fishing effort (Moore et al, 2016; Rees et al, 2021b), and ecosystem service value (Hussain et al, 2010), or on singular habitats (Unsworth et al, 2010). The present study combines landings data, primary sales information, spatial habitat and MPA data and life history information to value multiple habitat types to assess the role of essential habitats, across a whole ecosystem, underpinning the economic value of fisheries.…”

“…However, legal instruments available to fisheries managers (such as bylaws) that exclude specified fishing metiers from spatial areas are often employed to protect specific features within MPAs. Increasing evidence suggests that MPAs with fishery management measures to exclude bottom‐towed gear can both protect and support the recovery of protected features (Solandt et al, 2020) and provide social and economic benefits (Rees et al, 2021a,b). Additionally, maintaining or improving the structural integrity of the seabed can enhance the ability of a system to support fishery species (Davies et al, 2021; Elliott et al, 2017; Howarth et al, 2011).…”

“…Economic valuation applied to ecological systems is proving to be a useful tool to progress debate and discussion as to costs and benefits of fisheries management and conservation (Ovando et al, 2016). The first‐sale wet weight market values at the point of port landings have been used as an indicator of the value of fisheries to coastal communities (Jackson et al, 2015; Rees et al, 2021b). However, an ecosystem‐based approach to marine management is increasingly recognised in both policy (e.g.…”

Social, economic and institutional study of purse seine fisheries based on the ecosystem approach in the Fishing Port of Kutaraja, Banda Aceh

“…Furthermore, the value of the fisherman's savings ratio was also very much smaller when compared to the prevailing loan interest rate at Bank Indonesia (10.81%), so this further indicates that the income earned by fishermen has not been able to guarantee the welfare of the fishermen themselves. Meanwhile, human welfare can be realized from the sustainability of its ecological, social and economic systems [14].…”