Mitigating negative livelihood impacts of no-take MPAs on small-scale fishers

Mizrahi, Me'ira, Duce, Stephanie, Khine, Zin Lin, MacKeracher, Tracy, Maung, Khin May Chit, Phyu, Ei Thal, Pressey, Robert L., Simpfendorfer, Colin, and Diedrich, Amy (2020) Mitigating negative livelihood impacts of no-take MPAs on small-scale fishers. Biological Conservation, 245. 108554.

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Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have the potential to support small-scale fishers in managing their resources. However, a general failure to consider the varying levels of vulnerability of fishers has resulted in MPAs that, often unintentionally, adversely impact small-scale fishers. Furthermore, when fishers lack the capacity to adapt to MPA-related changes, MPAs may fail to meet conservation objectives because fishers do not comply with MPA regulations. In this study, we developed a systematic method to identify individuals who are most vulnerable to being negatively impacted by no-take MPAs through an index that represents individual-level vulnerability. We designed a method for identifying these individuals based on four socioeconomic factors pertaining to vulnerability to MPA changes: livelihood diversity, education, age and wealth, then applied this method in two socially and economically heterogeneous communities in Myanmar's Myeik Archipelago. We used empirical data collected from 80 small-scale fishers in this area to represent each factor, then generated a local-level 'Livelihood Impact Potential Index' (LIPI) that reflects the degree to which a no-take MPA would impact an individual fisher's ability to support his or her livelihood. When attributed to each fisher's most frequented fishing ground, the LIPI can identify locations where no-take MPAs would be most detrimental to small-scale fishers' livelihoods based on their levels of vulnerability. The LIPI can thus be used alongside ecological and commercial fishing data to support planners in designing local-scale MPAs that maximise positive impact on biodiversity and minimise adverse impacts on the most vulnerable fishers in a community.

Item ID: 63124
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1873-2917
Copyright Information: (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved (Published Version). Accepted version available under CC BY-NC-ND after 24 month embargo.
Funders: Shark Conservation Fund (SCF)
Projects and Grants: SCF Maximising Conservation Outcomes for Shark & Ray MPAs
Date Deposited: 16 Jul 2020 02:49
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50%
41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410404 Environmental management @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9607 Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards > 960701 Coastal and Marine Management Policy @ 70%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9699 Other Environment > 969999 Environment not elsewhere classified @ 30%
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