Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas Synopsis

This publication explores experiences with aquatic protected areas (PAs), marine protected areas (MPAs) and protected areas in inland waters in the context of livelihoods and food security. Despite challenges relating to issues such as a lack of empirical evidence and deficient experimental designs, it is possible to identify certain key problem areas: the distribution of costs and benefits, the high degree of dependence of fishing communities, the highly dynamic patterns of change in the areas concerned, the difficulty and cost of enforcement, and commonly recurrent financing difficulties. The positive outcomes observed in the case studies presented here relate to improved social cohesion and participation, conservation and incomes. However, concerns are also expressed about a lack of attainment of expected outcomes. It is stressed that no generalization on the efficacy of aquatic PAs in supporting livelihoods is possible, and direct measures of impact on food security and poverty are unavailable. Numerous elements to address the problem are proposed relating to: (i) dedicated policies; (ii) clearer and more comprehensive objectives; (iii) community participation; (iv) communication between stakeholders; (v) building capacity to collaborate effectively; (vi) incorporating a mix of technical and structural measures; (vii) use of traditional knowledge; (viii) systematic recording of empirical evidence; and (ix) compensation, alternative livelihoods and income-generating activities. Building on work presented at the IUCN World Parks Congress (WPC) held in Sydney, Australia, on 12-19 November 2014, this document includes: (i) ten papers reporting on the interface of MPA/protected areas with livelihoods and food security, based on case studies in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania; (ii) an eleventh contribution providing a more general overview of MPAs and food security and how to assess their impact; and (iii) a final paper synthesizing the conclusions of the papers and discussing the observed outcomes of aquatic PAs, together with problems and solutions. The papers are reproduced as submitted.