The valuation of marine reserves: Linking ecological, economic, social, and political aspects

Abstract

Valuing nature is an ongoing interdisciplinary debate between ecologists and socio-economists, centred on the trade-offs between long-term marine conservation outcomes and short-term economic returns. By using Marine Protected Areas (MPA) as an analytical framework, researchers can address these challenges and reach conclusions that satisfy both ecological and economic perspectives. This research serves as a good case study, employing an ecology-based monetary valuation method to link ecological empirical evidence with economic values, demonstrating the monetary contribution of Marine Reserves (MR) to communities and beyond. The spillover and recruitment effects of MR are estimated to provide a significant boost to the commercial fishery, with an annual catch landing value of NZ$ 1.49 million. The average gross output, including contributions from the MR's recruitment effect, amounts to NZ$4.89 million, with value added (GDP) of NZ$1.86 million, indirectly supporting 16 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). The direct value contributed to snapper recreational fishing is NZ$3.21 million per annum, while indirect value from fishing equipment spending is NZ$3.30 million per annum. This research represents the first estimation of the monetary value of spillover and recruitment effects from a well-established, no-take MPA (MR), illustrating the contribution of marine conservation to society.