Point-of-View: Arguments for conventional fisheries management and against no-take marine protected areas: only half of the story?

Abstract

Recent arguments for conventional fisheries management approaches (CFMAs) and against no-take marine protected areas (NTMPAs) are reviewed, i.e. CFMAs are more effective, density-dependent factors will lead to reduced fish stock production in and around NTMPAs, rights-based approaches in combination with CFMAs will be more effective, and natural refuges from fishing already exist. It is concluded that these are largely valid but only from a fisheries management perspective.

Challenging the win-win discourse on conservation and development: analyzing support for marine protected areas

“…A review of projects supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF 2005) found that expectations of win-win situations were unrealistic in most cases, with trade-offs occurring between biodiversity and livelihood or development components of projects for at least some individuals or groups (McShane et al 2011) In the case of MPAs, there is mixed evidence on the socioeconomic benefits they provide to affected communities (Jones 2007, Chaigneau 2013), yet it is the perception and realization of the socioeconomic benefits arising from the MPA that will lead to increased support Vogt 2000, Beger et al 2004). In asserting and emphasizing the benefits to local communities, the win-win discourse may lead to hope or raised expectations of fisheries or tourism benefits.…”

The science of European marine reserves: Status, efficacy, and future needs

“…There will always be a degree of uncertainty concerning the scientific basis for designing effective marine reserve networks due to the complexity, variability and interconnectedness of marine ecosystems, which makes it very difficult to prove cause-effect relationships [121]. Some stakeholders can highlight such uncertainties as a reason for maintaining the status quo, though proponents of marine reserves would counter that such designations actually provide insurance against uncertainty [122]. In addition, extractive stakeholders who can have shorter-term and individualistic priorities may resist and disregard marine reserve restrictions that are aimed at achieving broad long-term societal objectives.…”

Long-term decrease in sex-specific natural mortality of European lobster within a marine protected area

“…Also, the authors hypothesized that the same effect will eventually manifest itself even in the fished population because of higher density through larval input from the reserve. However, the long-term demographic consequences of protection are poorly understood, largely owing to sparseness of available empirical data (Jones 2007). Such data are urgently needed, e.g.…”