Contrasts in ecological assessment and tourism sector perceptions of coral reefs: a case study at Islas Marietas National Park

Abstract

Understanding and incorporating stakeholders' perceptions is fundamental to effectively managing marine protected areas (MPAs). Islas Marietas National Park (IMNP), an ecologically important coral reef ecosystem in the Central Mexican Pacific (CMP), has experienced major fluctuations in tourism pressures, environmental health, and regulatory changes in the past decade, which has led to efforts in its monitoring and restoration; however, limited research has been conducted to understand stakeholders’ perceptions of the social-ecological system. The present study integrates ecological attributes of the park, primarily changes in live coral cover (LCC), and stakeholders’ perceptions of the coral reef ecosystem to determine how users and tourism operators perceive the ecological changes in the area. It employs a mixed-methods approach, including ecological markers such as changes in live coral cover from 2012 to 2022 and recent surveys collected from tourism stakeholders. The results show that while live coral cover increased from 12.11 ± 6.21% in 2012 to 25.29 ± 15.00%, tourists and tourism operators perceive a decrease and degradation of the natural environment. In addition, tourists perceive a major ecological decline than tourism operators, and this perception is not correlated with their age range. Perceptions of environmental health do not align with the health status assessed by ecological monitoring, and the lack of awareness of ecological recovery at IMNP may hinder management efforts’ continued and expanded success. Therefore, developing more effective communication initiatives, citizen involvement, and education is important for conserving and managing coral communities in the park.