Co-design of a marine protected area zoning and the lessons learned from it

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a tool to safeguard marine natural systems, yet their effectiveness depends on how well they are integrated into the existing socioeconomic context. Stakeholder engagement in MPA design can contribute to increasing integration. This study focuses on the co-design of an MPA between researchers, public administration, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. The proposed MPA is in Portugal and includes an area that is a hotspot for biodiversity and economic activities. This is the first MPA proposal in mainland Portugal co-designed using a participatory approach. This study highlights the steps of the zoning process and synthesizes the eight main lessons learned, useful for other cases, particularly for relatively small coastal MPAs with multiple socioeconomic activities. Three zoning proposals were developed and discussed within the participatory process. The proposals considered the best scientific and local knowledge available and were defined using ecological, socioeconomic, and shape-area guiding principles. In an iterative manner and following a participatory approach, compromises with stakeholders were achieved, and a final proposal, scientifically sound and socially accepted by most stakeholders, was delivered to the government. The final zoning plan will achieve ambitious conservation goals, including the largest fully protected area to be declared in mainland Portugal, while minimizing the impacts on the existing economic activities and promoting its sustainability. This process resulted in valuable lessons that may be applied elsewhere and guide future MPA implementation or rezoning of existing ones. These transdisciplinary and participatory processes can be time and resource-consuming but are vital for ensuring MPA effectiveness.

New directions for Indigenous and local knowledge research and application in fisheries science: Lessons from a systematic review

“…The last two thematic categories we identified were management , and triangulation , each accounting for 10% of publications. Articles within the management category collected primarily qualitative data (90%) and integrated ILK in marine protected area (MPA) zonation (Horta e Costa et al., 2022; Yates & Schoeman, 2014), to identify priority issues for management (Saavedra‐Díaz et al., 2015; Truesdale et al., 2019), to gauge perceptions of management (Damiano et al., 2022; Yates, 2014) or to identify barriers or new strategies for management (Romero Manrique de Lara & Corral, 2017). Barley Kincaid and Rose (2014) surveyed snow crab fishers in Labrador, Canada, to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that led to them advocating for greater levels of spatial protection for their target species than those suggested by management agencies.…”

An assessment of the state of conservation planning in Europe

“…New advances are being made in improving the formulation of targets to improve their biological realism Targets informed by RedList criteria [ 27 , 77 ], Favourable reference values [ 78 ], indicators of landscape metrics [ 69 ] integrated and joint planning across sectors Integration of features and targets from different sectors into a single prioritization, thus allowing the balancing of synergies and trade-offs with biodiversity and other demands, for example, through weights. Integrated planning for both biodiversity and land use targets [ 31 , 47 , 79 – 81 ] Joint planning balancing multiple objectives [ 27 , 82 ] Consideration of NCPs in SCP [ 27 , 36 , 83 ] co-design with stakeholders Involve those actors affected or benefiting by the implementation of the conservation priorities in the design and execution of the analytical process Guidelines and examples for increased effectiveness [ 33 ], co-design of planning with stakeholders [ 79 , 84 ] connectivity Directly incorporate connectivity in the design of current or future reserve networks. Incorporating ecological connectivity in SCP [ 43 , 44 , 85 ] …”

Healthy assemblages of Isidella elongata unintentionally protected from trawling offshore of Asinara Island (northwestern Sardinia, NW Mediterranean Sea)

“…The protection of these coral gardens in the study area could facilitate the effective preservation of the ecological function of these key coral species, which are relatively unimpacted by anthropogenic stressors. However, transdisciplinary studies, participatory processes addressing both protection and social goals, and stakeholder support are required to achieve an effective MPA and marine biodiversity conservation 68 , 69 .…”