Social networks and information flow: Building the ground for collaborative marine conservation planning in Portofino Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Markantonatou, Vasiliki; Méndez, Pedro; Semitiel-García, María; Hogg, Katie; Sanò, Marcello

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2015.11.023

Cited by 29 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“… They can support researchers in collecting data over spatial and temporal scales that would otherwise prove impossible to cover, thereby informing the same decision‐making that regulates diving itself as demonstrated by the two case studies illustrated here. At a higher level of cooperation and engagement, recreational (customers) and professional (tourism operators) divers can team up with researchers and managers to identify issues that need to be addressed, and design strategies to do so. Volunteers and some of the operators that support RCI have called for the launch of side initiatives (such as the monitoring of lost nets) or the adaptation of the U‐CEM protocol to locations featuring peculiar habitats. The social network linking stakeholders in the Portofino MPA is dense, yet relationships and trust can be improved (Markantonatou et al , ). Participation in CS, and related events as described in the second case study, are opportunities for different stakeholders to work together for a common goal.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diving for science ‐ science for diving: volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

Cerrano

Milanese

Ponti

2016

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Recreational diving engages 20 million people worldwide. Most of the literature refers to tropical destinations but at least 1 million dives per year take place in Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs).2. Divers may negatively affect underwater habitats. However, if effectively engaged, they can contribute to science, territorial management and more sustainable local economies.3. During 2006-2014, volunteers trained by the not-for-profit organization Reef Check Italia (RCI) completed 24 714 observations and 2417 dives in six Mediterranean countries, contributing to a dataset that supports scientific papers about climate change, rare and non-indigenous species (NIS), and informs MPA management decision-making.4. The wide range of opportunities offered by this dataset is illustrated with two examples relevant to marine conservation in the context of MPA management. They concern: (i) the spread of the NIS Caulerpa cylindracea along the Ligurian coasts, with a focus on Portofino MPA, and (ii) the distribution and abundance of protected species in the Portofino MPA. 5. A diver-focused survey showed that RCI volunteers are highly committed, and that participation in RCI activities has led to a better understanding of, and a sense of stewardship towards, favoured dive sites and the marine world. Knowing who volunteers are, and why they volunteer in their favourite sector, is crucial to designing citizen-science based projects able to achieve their multiple goals.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diving for science ‐ science for diving: volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

Cerrano

Milanese

Ponti

2016

Aquatic Conservation

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“…The MPA is zoned to control uses, including artisanal fishing, scuba diving, free diving, snorkelling, and boating. Given the small area of the MPA and the many uses, some of which tend to overlap, conflicts between stakeholders such as divers and fishermen can occur [35,41].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of scuba diving experience on divers’ perceptions, and its implications for managing diving destinations

et al. 2019

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Scuba diving experience–which can include accumulated diving experience and familiarity with a diving location–is an important descriptor of diver specialisation and behaviour. Formulating and applying generalisations on scuba diving experience and its effects could assist the management of diving destinations around the world. This requires research that tests whether the influences of scuba diving experience are consistent across divers’ segments at different locations. The study assessed and compared the influence of scuba diving experience at two study areas in Italy and Mozambique. Scuba divers (N = 499) participated in a survey of diver segmentation, experience, and perceptions. The influence of diving experience on perceptions was determined using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Experienced divers provided positive self-assessments, were less satisfied with dive sites’ health and management, and viewed the impacts of scuba diving activities less critically than novice divers. Scuba diving experience exerted similar influences on divers, regardless of the study area. However, remarkable differences also emerged between the study areas. Therefore, the use of generalisations on scuba diving experience remains a delicate issue. Recommendations were formulated for the management of experienced scuba diving markets and for the use of generalisations on diving experience to manage diving destinations.

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“…Saayman and Saayman [108] discuss the economic benefits resulting from scuba diving in protected marine areas, and Di Carro [109] describes an approach for assessing human impact on the Portofino protected marine area. Finally, Markantonatou et al [110] develops a study on social networks and the flow of information for responsible and sustainable planning in the Portofino protected marine area.…”

Section: Geosites Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging Terrestrial and Marine Geoheritage: Assessing Geosites in Portofino Natural Park (Italy)

Coratza

Vandelli

Fiorentini

et al. 2019

Water

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Interest in geoheritage research has grown over the past 25 years and several countries have issued laws to encourage improvement and conservation. Investigations on geosites are prevalently carried out on land environments, although the study of underwater marine environments is also of paramount scientific importance. Nevertheless, due to the constraints of underwater environments, these sites have been little explored, also on account of the higher costs and difficulties of surveying. This research has identified and assessed the terrestrial and marine geosites of the Portofino Natural Park and Protected Marine Area, which are internationally famous owing to both the land scenic features and the quality of the marine ecosystem. The goal was to pinpoint the most suitable sites for tourist improvement and fruition and identify possible connections between the two environments. In all, 28 terrestrial sites and 27 marine sites have been identified and their scientific value as well as their ecological, cultural, and aesthetic importance has been assessed. In addition, accessibility, services, and economic potential of geosites has also been taken into account. Both the updated database of terrestrial and marine geosites in the Portofino protected areas and the assessment procedure adopted can become useful tools for the managers of these sites and provide decision-makers with possible strategies for tourist development.

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Social networks and information flow: Building the ground for collaborative marine conservation planning in Portofino Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Cited by 29 publications

References 38 publications

Diving for science ‐ science for diving: volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

Diving for science ‐ science for diving: volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea

The influence of scuba diving experience on divers’ perceptions, and its implications for managing diving destinations

Bridging Terrestrial and Marine Geoheritage: Assessing Geosites in Portofino Natural Park (Italy)

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