Oceans of opportunity: Marine Protected Areas and their potential in economically vulnerable regions
Keywords:
Marine Protected Areas, MPAs, Integrated coastal management, fishing communities, intersectoral work, inclusive participationAbstract
The establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has become one of the most promising strategies to mitigate the overexploitation of marine resources and preserve biodiversity in a global context marked by climate change and ecosystem degradation. However, the success of MPAs depends not only on defining geographic spaces for conservation but also on understanding and managing the complex relationships among the involved stakeholders. In economically vulnerable regions, the tension between the needs of fishing communities and conservation objectives can dictate the outcome of these initiatives. Despite the recognized benefits of MPAs, such as increased ecosystem resilience, enhanced fish biomass, and the mitigation of unsustainable practices, their implementation faces significant challenges. These include the perception of exclusion by fishers, who often view MPAs as a direct threat to their livelihoods. The lack of inclusive planning and participatory approaches has resulted in resistance that undermines the effectiveness of these areas. This essay will analyze both the positive and negative effects of MPAs, highlighting the importance of integrating community voices from the outset and proposing a framework for community participation that optimizes conservation and socio-economic development outcomes. Moreover, recommendations for the proper implementation of MPAs will be discussed, along with a roadmap for the active and continuous involvement of key stakeholders.
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