Stakeholder perspectives on large-scale marine protected areas.

Evan Artis,Lisa M Campbell,Sarah Bess Zigler,Lillian Mitchell,Leslie Acton,Noella J Gray,Rebecca L Gruby

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0238574

Abstract

Large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs), MPAs greater than 100,000km2, have proliferated in the past decade. However, the value of LSMPAs as conservation tools is debated, in both global scientific and policy venues as well as in particular sites. To add nuance and more diverse voices to this debate, this research examines the perspectives of stakeholders directly engaged with LSMPAs. We conducted a Q Method study with forty LSMPA stakeholders at five sites, including three established LSMPAs (the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, United States; the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, Kiribati; the National Marine Sanctuary, Palau) and two sites where LSMPAs had been proposed at the time of research (Bermuda and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile). The analysis reveals five distinct viewpoints of LSMPAs. These include three more optimistic views of LSMPAs we have named Enthusiast, Purist, and Relativist. It also depicts two more cautious views of LSMPAs, which we have named Critic and Skeptic. The findings demonstrate the multi-dimensionality of stakeholder viewpoints on LSMPAs. These shared viewpoints have implications for the global LSMPA debate and LSMPA decision-makers, including highlighting the need to focus on LSMPA consultation processes. Better understanding of these viewpoints, including stakeholder beliefs, perspectives, values and concerns, may help to facilitate more nuanced dialogue amongst LSMPA stakeholders and, in turn, promote better governance of LSMPAs.

Highlights

In the past decade, the ‘race’ to establish large-scale marine protected areas has been a dominant trend in marine conservation practice [1]
This article provides evidence of what stakeholders think about Large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) relative to global debates regarding LSMPAs as conservation tools
There are some consistencies between the stakeholder perspectives we identified and the global LSMPA debates

Summary

Introduction

The ‘race’ to establish large-scale marine protected areas has been a dominant trend in marine conservation practice [1]. Large-scale marine protected areas (LSMPAs) are defined as any area greater than 100,000 km that is managed for conservation purposes. More than twenty LSMPAs have been established since 2006, constituting more than 70% of the global coverage of MPAs [2]. The four largest MPAs have been created or expanded since. Org) provided funding for this work through awards to RLG. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Methods

Results

Conclusion