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Starting point or solution? Community-based marine protected areas in the Philippines
P Christie1, A White, E Deguit
1School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, 3707 Brooklyn Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105-6715, USA. patrickc@u.washington.edu
Journal of Environmental Management
|December 31, 2002
Summary
Small marine protected areas (MPAs) show partial success in boosting coral cover but struggle with declining fish populations. Effective conservation requires reduced fishing effort and networked MPAs for sustainable coral reef health.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Conservation science
- Ecosystem management
Background:
- Coral reef degradation prompted the establishment of community-based marine protected areas (MPAs) in Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands in 1985.
- These no-take sanctuaries aimed to reverse declining coral reef conditions through local involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of small, isolated marine protected areas (MPAs) in Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands.
- To assess the impact of MPAs on coral cover and fish abundance/diversity.
- To identify limitations of small MPAs and inform future coral reef management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study from 1984 to 1999 comparing coral cover and fish abundance inside and outside MPAs.
- Comparison of MPA sites with control sites on nearby islands without MPAs.
- Analysis of fish abundance and species richness trends in relation to MPA establishment and enforcement.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in living hard coral cover in Balicasag (119% inside, 67% outside sanctuary) but not Pamilacan (20% decrease inside, 45% outside).
- Initial increase in target fish abundance in both sanctuaries, followed by a significant decline.
- Fish abundance and diversity peaked in 1986, correlating with strict enforcement, but declined thereafter, with no significant difference between Balicasag non-sanctuary and control sites.
Conclusions:
- Small, isolated MPAs demonstrate partial success in coral recovery but are limited in sustaining fish populations due to surrounding fishing pressure.
- Effective coral reef management necessitates broader strategies, including reduced fishing effort and a network of interconnected MPAs.
- Continued support for community-based MPAs, alongside integrated management, is crucial for improving coral reef habitat quality and biodiversity.