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Ghoddousi A, Van Cayzeele C, Negahdar P, Soofi M, Kh Hamidi A, Bleyhl B, Fandos G, Khorozyan I, Waltert M, Kuemmerle T. Understanding spatial patterns of poaching pressure using ranger logbook data to optimize future patrolling strategies. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2601. [PMID: 35366036 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Poaching is driving many species toward extinction, and as a result, lowering poaching pressure is a conservation priority. This requires understanding where poaching pressure is high and which factors determine these spatial patterns. However, the cryptic and illegal nature of poaching makes this difficult. Ranger patrol data, typically recorded in protected area logbooks, contain information on patrolling efforts and poaching detection and should thus provide opportunities for a better understanding of poaching pressure. However, these data are seldom analyzed and rarely used to inform adaptive management strategies. We developed a novel approach to making use of analog logbook records to map poaching pressure and to test environmental criminology and predator-prey relationship hypotheses explaining poaching patterns. We showcase this approach for Golestan National Park in Iran, where poaching has substantially depleted ungulate populations. We digitized data from >4800 ranger patrols from 2014 to 2016 and used an occupancy modeling framework to relate poaching to (1) accessibility, (2) law enforcement, and (3) prey availability factors. Based on predicted poaching pressure and patrolling intensity, we provide suggestions for future patrol allocation strategies. Our results revealed a low probability (12%) of poacher detection during patrols. Poaching distribution was best explained by prey availability, indicating that poachers target areas with high concentrations of ungulates. Poaching pressure was estimated to be high (>0.49) in 39% of our study area. To alleviate poaching pressure, we recommend ramping up patrolling intensity in 12% of the national park, which could be achievable by reducing excess patrols in about 20% of the park. However, our results suggest that for 27% of the park, it is necessary to improve patrolling quality to increase detection probability of poaching, for example, by closing temporal patrolling gaps or expanding informant networks. Our approach illustrates that analog ranger logbooks are an untapped resource for evidence-based and adaptive planning of protected area management. Using this wealth of data can open up new avenues to better understand poaching and its determinants, to expand effectiveness assessments to the past, and, more generally, to allow for strategic conservation planning in protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Ghoddousi
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Corinna Van Cayzeele
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Pegah Negahdar
- Tropical Ecology, Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mahmood Soofi
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
- CSIRO Land and Water, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | | | - Benjamin Bleyhl
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guillermo Fandos
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Igor Khorozyan
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Waltert
- Department of Conservation Biology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Kuemmerle
- Geography Department, Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute for Transformations in Human-Environment Systems (IRI THESys), Humboldt-University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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2
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Doherty PD, Atsango BC, Ngassiki G, Ngouembe A, Bréheret N, Chauvet E, Godley BJ, Machin L, Moundzoho BD, Parnell RJ, Metcalfe K. Threats of illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing to biodiversity and food security in the Republic of the Congo. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2021; 35:1463-1472. [PMID: 33615559 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing poses a major threat to effective management of marine resources, affecting biodiversity and communities dependent on these coastal resources. Spatiotemporal patterns of industrial fisheries in developing countries are often poorly understood, and global efforts to describe spatial patterns of fishing vessel activity are currently based on automatic identification system (AIS) data. However, AIS is often not a legal requirement on fishing vessels, likely resulting in underestimates of the scale and distribution of legal and illegal fishing activity, which could have significant ramifications for targeted enforcement efforts and the management of fisheries resources. To help address this knowledge gap, we analyzed 3 years of vessel monitoring system (VMS) data in partnership with the national fisheries department in the Republic of the Congo to describe the behavior of national and distant-water industrial fleets operating in these waters. We found that the spatial footprint of the industrial fisheries fleet encompassed over one-quarter of the Exclusive Economic Zone. On average, 73% of fishing activity took place on the continental shelf (waters shallower than 200 m). Our findings highlight that VMS is not acting as a deterrent or being effectively used as a proactive management tool. As much as 33% (13% on average) of fishing effort occurred in prohibited areas set aside to protect biodiversity, including artisanal fisheries resources, and the distant-water fleet responsible for as much as 84% of this illegal activity. Given the growth in industrial and distant-water fleets across the region, as well as low levels of management and enforcement, these findings highlight that there is an urgent need for the global community to help strengthen regional and national capacity to analyze national scale data sets if efforts to combat IUU fishing are to be effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip D Doherty
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Benoit C Atsango
- Direction Generale des Peches et de l'Aquaculture, Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche, Brazzaville, République du Congo
| | - Gaston Ngassiki
- Direction Generale des Peches et de l'Aquaculture, Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche, Brazzaville, République du Congo
| | - Appolinaire Ngouembe
- Direction Generale des Peches et de l'Aquaculture, Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Elevage et de la Pêche, Brazzaville, République du Congo
| | - Nathalie Bréheret
- Association RENATURA Congo, Ecocentre, Rue Bois des Singes, Pointe Noire, République du Congo
| | - Eva Chauvet
- Association RENATURA Congo, Ecocentre, Rue Bois des Singes, Pointe Noire, République du Congo
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Lucie Machin
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | | | | | - Kristian Metcalfe
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
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Cambra M, Madrigal-Mora S, Chinchilla I, Golfín-Duarte G, Lowe CG, Espinoza M. First record of a potential neonate tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) at a remote oceanic island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1140-1144. [PMID: 33942302 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) play an important ecological role as top predators, yet knowledge of their reproductive ecology is scarce. Here, the authors report the first observation of a potential neonate G. cuvier at Cocos Island, a predator-dominated oceanic island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). The individual was detected using baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS). The cameras also detected female individuals potentially pregnant, suggesting that parturition may take place at or near the island. Nonetheless, it is still unclear if the presence of a single neonate is an isolated event or evidence that the species is using the island for reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cambra
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Sergio Madrigal-Mora
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Isaac Chinchilla
- Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Área de Conservación Marina Cocos (ACMC), Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Geiner Golfín-Duarte
- Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Área de Conservación Marina Cocos (ACMC), Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - Mario Espinoza
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Museo de Zoología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Migramar, Olema, California, USA
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4
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Silva MRO, Pennino MG, Lopes PFM. Predicting potential compliance of small-scale fishers in Brazil: The need to increase trust to achieve fisheries management goals. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 288:112372. [PMID: 33756387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many global management and conservation initiatives fail to prevent overfishing either because they do not plan for local engagement, surveillance, and enforcement, and/or because they fail to include alternatives for short-term losses. Thus, these initiatives do not gain support among fishers. In this study, we interviewed fishers to investigate their stated behavior toward fisheries regulations. We assessed possible (non)compliant behavior under scenarios where fishers would face a moratorium on some of their target species. Additionally, we investigated the consequences of such a moratorium on the food web if it were to lead to fishing alternative species. Using data from two Brazilian coastal sites, we found that younger fishers and those who demonstrated a trustworthy relationship with stakeholders were inclined to comply with the rules. The level of potential compliance also varied between the studied places, probably due to unidentified local idiosyncrasies. Fishers tended to trust community actors (e.g., the leader or head of the fishing community) more than institutional actors (e.g., environmental agencies). When fishers were asked why they would choose specific replacement species in the event of a moratorium, they most often cited expected profitability and ease of capture as reasons. Fishers also tended to say that they would replace endangered species with species in the same and/or lower trophic categories. We suggest working toward stronger stakeholder engagement, given that an overall sense of trust in a community appears to be an important asset toward successful management. Higher levels of trust could promote more transparency in the decision-making process, which could facilitate information dissemination, awareness, and the need for compliance. The mixed methods approach used here could help predict responses to new and existing management policies and support adaptive fisheries management.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R O Silva
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; Fishing Ecology, management and economics group, Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - M G Pennino
- Fishing Ecology, management and economics group, Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Spain
| | - P F M Lopes
- Fishing Ecology, management and economics group, Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
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5
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Booth H, Arlidge WNS, Squires D, Milner-Gulland EJ. Bycatch levies could reconcile trade-offs between blue growth and biodiversity conservation. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:715-725. [PMID: 33972736 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01444-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Economic activities in the ocean (that is, the 'blue economy') provide value to society, yet also jeopardize marine ecosystems. For example, fisheries are an essential source of income and food security for billions of people, yet bycatch poses a major threat to marine biodiversity, creating trade-offs between economic growth and biodiversity conservation. This Perspective explores bycatch levies as a market-based instrument for reconciling these trade-offs. We outline the theory and practice of bycatch levies to demonstrate how they could incentivize bycatch prevention and raise revenue for compensatory conservation, provided they are well designed, as part of a policy mix for sustainable and equitable ocean governance. We then explore ways forward for mainstreaming bycatch levies into the blue economy. While compensatory bycatch mitigation has been controversial, increasing adoption of net outcome approaches to biodiversity conservation suggests they could become mainstreamed within the next decade. Bycatch levies could raise billions of dollars towards closing global biodiversity financing gaps, delivering net outcomes for biodiversity under the United Nations Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework while enabling blue growth, and moving towards win-wins for economic welfare and biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hollie Booth
- The Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,Wildlife Conservation Society, New York City, NY, USA.
| | - William N S Arlidge
- The Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Faculty of Life Sciences, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dale Squires
- Department of Economics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.,Southwest Fisheries Science Centre, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - E J Milner-Gulland
- The Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Collins C, Nuno A, Benaragama A, Broderick A, Wijesundara I, Wijetunge D, Letessier TB. Ocean‐scale footprint of a highly mobile fishing fleet: Social‐ecological drivers of fleet behaviour and evidence of illegal fishing. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Collins
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - Ana Nuno
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA) School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) NOVA University Lisbon Lisboa Portugal
| | | | - Annette Broderick
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | | | | | - Tom B. Letessier
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
- The UWA Oceans Institute University of Western Australia (M092) Crawley WA Australia
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7
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Eisele MH, Madrigal-Mora S, Espinoza M. Drivers of reef fish assemblages in an upwelling region from the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 98:1074-1090. [PMID: 33274754 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Reef fish assemblages are exposed to a wide range of anthropogenic threats as well as chronic natural disturbances. In upwelling regions, for example, there is a seasonal influx of cool nutrient-rich waters that may shape the structure and composition of reef fish assemblages. Given that climate change may disrupt the natural oceanographic processes by altering the frequency and strength of natural disturbances, understanding how fish assemblages respond to upwelling events is essential to effectively manage reef ecosystems under changing ocean conditions. This study used the baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) and the traditional underwater visual census (UVC) to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of reef fish assemblages in an upwelling region in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. A total of 183 reef fish species from 60 families were recorded, of which 166 species were detected using BRUVS and 122 using UVC. Only 66% of all species were detected using both methods. This study showed that the upwelling had an important role in shaping reef fish assemblages in this region, but there was also a significant interaction between upwelling and location. In addition, other drivers such as habitat complexity and habitat composition had an effect on reef fish abundances and species. To authors' knowledge, this is the first study in the Eastern Tropical Pacific that combines BRUVS and UVC to monitor reef fish assemblages in an upwelling region, which provides more detailed information to assess the state of reef ecosystems in response to multiple threats and changing ocean conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius H Eisele
- Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sergio Madrigal-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Mario Espinoza
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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Booth H, Mardhiah U, Siregar H, Hunter J, Giyanto, Putra MIH, Marlow J, Cahyana A, Boysandi, Demoor AYL, Lewis S, Adhiasto D, Adrianto L, Yulianto I. An integrated approach to tackling wildlife crime: Impact and lessons learned from the world's largest targeted manta ray fishery. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hollie Booth
- The Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science, Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx New York USA
| | - Ulfah Mardhiah
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | - Hanifah Siregar
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | | | - Giyanto
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | | | - Jo Marlow
- Misool Foundation, Savu Sea Program Larantuka Indonesia
| | - Andi Cahyana
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | - Boysandi
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | | | | | - Dwi Adhiasto
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | - Luky Adrianto
- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Kampus IPB Dramaga Bogor Agricultural University Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
| | - Irfan Yulianto
- The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program Kota Bogor Jawa Barat Indonesia
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9
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Espinoza M, Araya-Arce T, Chaves-Zamora I, Chinchilla I, Cambra M. Monitoring elasmobranch assemblages in a data-poor country from the Eastern Tropical Pacific using baited remote underwater video stations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17175. [PMID: 33057085 PMCID: PMC7560706 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74282-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how threatened species are distributed in space and time can have direct applications to conservation planning. However, implementing standardized methods to monitor populations of wide-ranging species is often expensive and challenging. In this study, we used baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) to quantify elasmobranch abundance and distribution patterns across a gradient of protection in the Pacific waters of Costa Rica. Our BRUVS survey detected 29 species, which represents 54% of the entire elasmobranch diversity reported to date in shallow waters (< 60 m) of the Pacific of Costa Rica. Our data demonstrated that elasmobranchs benefit from no-take MPAs, yet large predators are relatively uncommon or absent from open-fishing sites. We showed that BRUVS are capable of providing fast and reliable estimates of the distribution and abundance of data-poor elasmobranch species over large spatial and temporal scales, and in doing so, they can provide critical information for detecting population-level changes in response to multiple threats such as overfishing, habitat degradation and climate change. Moreover, given that 66% of the species detected are threatened, a well-designed BRUVS survey may provide crucial population data for assessing the conservation status of elasmobranchs. These efforts led to the establishment of a national monitoring program focused on elasmobranchs and key marine megafauna that could guide monitoring efforts at a regional scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Espinoza
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica.
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica.
- Museo de Zoología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Tatiana Araya-Arce
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Isaac Chaves-Zamora
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Isaac Chinchilla
- Área de Conservación Marina Cocos (ACMCO), Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marta Cambra
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
- Escuela de Biologia, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060-11501, San José, Costa Rica
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10
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Thiault L, Weekers D, Curnock M, Marshall N, Pert PL, Beeden R, Dyer M, Claudet J. Predicting poaching risk in marine protected areas for improved patrol efficiency. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 254:109808. [PMID: 31739093 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are effective resource management and conservation measures, but their success is often hindered by non-compliant activities such as poaching. Understanding the risk factors and spatial patterns of poaching is therefore crucial for efficient law enforcement. Here, we conducted explanatory and predictive modelling of poaching from recreational fishers within no-take zones of Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) using Boosted Regression Trees (BRT). Combining patrol effort data, observed distribution of reported incidents, and spatially-explicit environmental and human risk factors, we modeled the occurrence probability of poaching incidents and mapped poaching risk at fine-scale. Our results: (i) show that fishing attractiveness, accessibility and fishing capacity play a major role in shaping the spatial patterns of poaching; (ii) revealed key interactions among these factors as well as tipping points beyond which poaching risk increased or decreased markedly; and (iii) highlight gaps in patrol effort that could be filled for improved resource allocation. The approach developed through this study provide a novel way to quantify the relative influence of multiple interacting factors in shaping poaching risk, and hold promises for replication across a broad range of marine or terrestrial settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauric Thiault
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278, CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 Rue Saint-Jacques, 75005, Paris, France; Laboratoire D'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia.
| | - Damian Weekers
- School of Social Science, University of Queensland, Michie Building, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Matt Curnock
- CSIRO Land and Water, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Nadine Marshall
- CSIRO Land and Water, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Petina L Pert
- CSIRO Land and Water, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Roger Beeden
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Michelle Dyer
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific Research, PSL Université Paris, CRIOBE, USR 3278, CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Maison des Océans, 195 Rue Saint-Jacques, 75005, Paris, France; Laboratoire D'Excellence CORAIL, Moorea, French Polynesia
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11
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Thiault L, Gelcich S, Cinner JE, Tapia‐Lewin S, Chlous F, Claudet J. Generic and specific facets of vulnerability for analysing trade‐offs and synergies in natural resource management. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauric Thiault
- National Center for Scientific ResearchPSL Université ParisCRIOBEUSR 3278 CNRS‐EPHE‐UPVD Paris France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL Moorea French Polynesia
- Museum National d’Histoire NaturellePALOCUMR208 MNHN‐IRD Paris France
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) and Center for the Study of Multiple‐Drivers on Marine Socio‐Ecological Systems (MUSELS) Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Stefan Gelcich
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) and Center for the Study of Multiple‐Drivers on Marine Socio‐Ecological Systems (MUSELS) Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Joshua E. Cinner
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Sebastian Tapia‐Lewin
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management University of California Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Frédérique Chlous
- Museum National d’Histoire NaturellePALOCUMR208 MNHN‐IRD Paris France
| | - Joachim Claudet
- National Center for Scientific ResearchPSL Université ParisCRIOBEUSR 3278 CNRS‐EPHE‐UPVD Paris France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL Moorea French Polynesia
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12
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Manna GL, Sarà G. A False Sense of Protection: Recreational Uses and Illegal Behavior in a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area and Implications for Management. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2019; 15:961-973. [PMID: 31218834 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 35 years, at both the European and the Italian level, great efforts have been made to increase the number of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): they are considered an effective tool for protecting oceans and biodiversity. In recent years, MPAs have become more than simply tools to improve marine conservation. In fact, their management agencies are actively involved in the sustainable development of nearby communities through the promotion of recreational activities (boating, snorkeling, diving). Even if the recreational uses of the marine environment are generally considered benign, they can potentially be highly detrimental for species and their habitats. As a result, these activities should be controlled through the spatial zoning and the regulation of the MPAs. Thus, the achievement of the conservation goals of the MPAs depends primarily on compliance with the regulations of recreational uses inside their boundaries. The objective of this study was to estimate boating usage and the related level of compliance inside the Capo Gallo and Isola delle Femmine (Italy) MPA. The spatial and temporal trend of boating and the behaviors of boaters were measured through direct observation over a period of 2 summer months. The study highlighted a weakness in the effectiveness of this MPA, linked to a social component and compliance with the regulation. Solutions for effective management plans are outlined thanks to an understanding of the limitations and potential of existing MPA policies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;00:1-13. © 2019 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella La Manna
- MareTerra Onlus - Environmental Research and Conservation, Alghero, Italy
| | - Gianluca Sarà
- MareTerra Onlus - Environmental Research and Conservation, Alghero, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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13
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Fourriére M, Alvarado JJ, Cortés J, Taylor MH, Ayala-Bocos A, Azofeifa-Solano JC, Arauz R, Heidemeyer M, López-Garro A, Zanella I, Wolff M. Energy flow structure and role of keystone groups in shallow water environments in Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, Eastern Tropical Pacific. Ecol Modell 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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14
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Weekers DP, Zahnow R. Risky facilities: Analysis of illegal recreational fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/0004865818804021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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15
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Duarte de Paula Costa M, Mills M, Richardson AJ, Fuller RA, Muelbert JH, Possingham HP. Efficiently enforcing artisanal fisheries to protect estuarine biodiversity. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:1450-1458. [PMID: 29944185 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal fisheries support millions of livelihoods worldwide, yet ineffective enforcement can allow for continued environmental degradation due to overexploitation. Here, we use spatial planning to design an enforcement strategy for a pre-existing spatial closure for artisanal fisheries considering climate variability, existing seasonal fishing closures, representative conservation targets and enforcement costs. We calculated enforcement cost in three ways, based on different assumptions about who could be responsible for monitoring the fishery. We applied this approach in the Patos Lagoon estuary (Brazil), where we found three important results. First, spatial priorities for enforcement were similar under different climate scenarios. Second, we found that the cost and percentage of area enforced varied among scenarios tested by the conservation planning analysis, with only a modest increase in budget needed to incorporate climate variability. Third, we found that spatial priorities for enforcement depend on whether enforcement is carried out by a central authority or by the community itself. Here, we demonstrated a method that can be used to efficiently design enforcement plans, resulting in the conservation of biodiversity and estuarine resources. Also, cost of enforcement can be potentially reduced when fishers are empowered to enforce management within their fishing grounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Laboratório de Ecologia do Ictioplâncton, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Campus Carreiros, Avenida Itália Km 8, CP 474, Rio Grande, RS, 96203900, Brazil
| | - Morena Mills
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, SL5 7PY, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony J Richardson
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland BioSciences Precinct (QBP), St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Richard A Fuller
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - José H Muelbert
- Laboratório de Ecologia do Ictioplâncton, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Campus Carreiros, Avenida Itália Km 8, CP 474, Rio Grande, RS, 96203900, Brazil
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Hugh P Possingham
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
- The Nature Conservancy, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia
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16
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Oyanedel R, Keim A, Castilla JC, Gelcich S. Illegal fishing and territorial user rights in Chile. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2018; 32:619-627. [PMID: 29114934 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Illegal fishing poses a major threat to conservation of marine resources worldwide. However, there is still limited empirical research that quantifies illegal catch levels. We used the randomized response technique to estimate the proportion of divers and the quantities of loco (Concholepas concholepas) they extracted illegally. Loco have been managed for the past 17 years through a territorial user rights for fisheries system (TURFs) in Chile. Illegal fishing of loco was widespread within the TURFs system. Official reported landings (i.e., legal landings) accounted for 14-30% of the total loco extraction. Our estimates suggest that ignoring the magnitude of illegal fishing and considering only official landing statistics may lead to false conclusions about the status and trends of a TURFs managed fishery. We found evidence of fisher associations authorizing their members to poach inside TURFs, highlighting the need to design TURFs systems so that government agencies and fishers' incentives and objectives align through continuous adaptation. Government support for enforcement is a key element for the TURFs system to secure the rights that are in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Oyanedel
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) & Centro de Conservacion Marina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Andres Keim
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) & Centro de Conservacion Marina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Juan Carlos Castilla
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) & Centro de Conservacion Marina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Stefan Gelcich
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) & Centro de Conservacion Marina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 340, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael A. Magris
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Robert L. Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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18
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Álvarez-Romero JG, Munguía-Vega A, Beger M, Del Mar Mancha-Cisneros M, Suárez-Castillo AN, Gurney GG, Pressey RL, Gerber LR, Morzaria-Luna HN, Reyes-Bonilla H, Adams VM, Kolb M, Graham EM, VanDerWal J, Castillo-López A, Hinojosa-Arango G, Petatán-Ramírez D, Moreno-Baez M, Godínez-Reyes CR, Torre J. Designing connected marine reserves in the face of global warming. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:e671-e691. [PMID: 29274104 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Marine reserves are widely used to protect species important for conservation and fisheries and to help maintain ecological processes that sustain their populations, including recruitment and dispersal. Achieving these goals requires well-connected networks of marine reserves that maximize larval connectivity, thus allowing exchanges between populations and recolonization after local disturbances. However, global warming can disrupt connectivity by shortening potential dispersal pathways through changes in larval physiology. These changes can compromise the performance of marine reserve networks, thus requiring adjusting their design to account for ocean warming. To date, empirical approaches to marine prioritization have not considered larval connectivity as affected by global warming. Here, we develop a framework for designing marine reserve networks that integrates graph theory and changes in larval connectivity due to potential reductions in planktonic larval duration (PLD) associated with ocean warming, given current socioeconomic constraints. Using the Gulf of California as case study, we assess the benefits and costs of adjusting networks to account for connectivity, with and without ocean warming. We compare reserve networks designed to achieve representation of species and ecosystems with networks designed to also maximize connectivity under current and future ocean-warming scenarios. Our results indicate that current larval connectivity could be reduced significantly under ocean warming because of shortened PLDs. Given the potential changes in connectivity, we show that our graph-theoretical approach based on centrality (eigenvector and distance-weighted fragmentation) of habitat patches can help design better-connected marine reserve networks for the future with equivalent costs. We found that maintaining dispersal connectivity incidentally through representation-only reserve design is unlikely, particularly in regions with strong asymmetric patterns of dispersal connectivity. Our results support previous studies suggesting that, given potential reductions in PLD due to ocean warming, future marine reserve networks would require more and/or larger reserves in closer proximity to maintain larval connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge G Álvarez-Romero
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Adrián Munguía-Vega
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Guaymas, Sonora, México
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | - Georgina G Gurney
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Robert L Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Leah R Gerber
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Hem Nalini Morzaria-Luna
- Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans Inc., Tucson, AZ, USA
- Visiting Researcher at Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Héctor Reyes-Bonilla
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Vanessa M Adams
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Melanie Kolb
- Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, México, Distrito Federal, México
- Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Distrito Federal, México
| | - Erin M Graham
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- eResearch Centre, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Jeremy VanDerWal
- Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- eResearch Centre, Division of Research and Innovation, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Gustavo Hinojosa-Arango
- Centro para la Biodiversidad Marina y la Conservación, A.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, México
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Oaxaca, México
| | | | - Marcia Moreno-Baez
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
| | - Carlos R Godínez-Reyes
- Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas: Reserva de la Biosfera Bahía de Los Ángeles, Canales de Ballenas y Salsipuedes, Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California, México
- Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas: Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo, La Ribera, Baja California Sur, México
| | - Jorge Torre
- Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A.C., Guaymas, Sonora, México
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19
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Venegas‐Li R, Levin N, Possingham H, Kark S. 3D spatial conservation prioritisation: Accounting for depth in marine environments. Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Venegas‐Li
- The Biodiversity Research Group School of Biological Sciences Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
| | - Noam Levin
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
- Department of Geography The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
| | - Hugh Possingham
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
- Conservation Science The Nature Conservancy South Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Salit Kark
- The Biodiversity Research Group School of Biological Sciences Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED) The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
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20
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Mascia MB, Fox HE, Glew L, Ahmadia GN, Agrawal A, Barnes M, Basurto X, Craigie I, Darling E, Geldmann J, Gill D, Holst Rice S, Jensen OP, Lester SE, McConney P, Mumby PJ, Nenadovic M, Parks JE, Pomeroy RS, White AT. A novel framework for analyzing conservation impacts: evaluation, theory, and marine protected areas. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2017; 1399:93-115. [PMID: 28719737 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conservation initiatives, including marine protected areas (MPAs), have proliferated in recent decades. Designed to conserve marine biodiversity, many MPAs also seek to foster sustainable development. As is the case for many other environmental policies and programs, the impacts of MPAs are poorly understood. Social-ecological systems, impact evaluation, and common-pool resource governance are three complementary scientific frameworks for documenting and explaining the ecological and social impacts of conservation interventions. We review key components of these three frameworks and their implications for the study of conservation policy, program, and project outcomes. Using MPAs as an illustrative example, we then draw upon these three frameworks to describe an integrated approach for rigorous empirical documentation and causal explanation of conservation impacts. This integrated three-framework approach for impact evaluation of governance in social-ecological systems (3FIGS) accounts for alternative explanations, builds upon and advances social theory, and provides novel policy insights in ways that no single approach affords. Despite the inherent complexity of social-ecological systems and the difficulty of causal inference, the 3FIGS approach can dramatically advance our understanding of, and the evidentiary basis for, effective MPAs and other conservation initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Mascia
- Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia
| | | | | | | | - Arun Agrawal
- School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Megan Barnes
- Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.,Centre for Excellence in Environmental Decisions, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xavier Basurto
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina
| | - Ian Craigie
- ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Emily Darling
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Marine Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York
| | - Jonas Geldmann
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; and Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Gill
- National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC), Annapolis, Maryland.,Luc Hoffmann Institute, WWF International, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Susie Holst Rice
- Coral Reef Conservation Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Olaf P Jensen
- Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Sarah E Lester
- Department of Geography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Patrick McConney
- Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados
| | - Peter J Mumby
- Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mateja Nenadovic
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina
| | | | - Robert S Pomeroy
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Connecticut-Avery Point, Groton, Connecticut
| | - Alan T White
- Asia-Pacific Program, The Nature Conservancy, Honolulu, Hawaii
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21
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Abundance and Distribution Patterns of Thunnus albacares in Isla del Coco National Park through Predictive Habitat Suitability Models. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168212. [PMID: 27973538 PMCID: PMC5156415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Information on the distribution and habitat preferences of ecologically and commercially important species is essential for their management and protection. This is especially important as climate change, pollution, and overfishing change the structure and functioning of pelagic ecosystems. In this study, we used Bayesian hierarchical spatial-temporal models to map the Essential Fish Habitats of the Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the waters around Isla del Coco National Park, Pacific Costa Rica, based on independent underwater observations from 1993 to 2013. We assessed if observed changes in the distribution and abundance of this species are related with habitat characteristics, fishing intensity or more extreme climatic events, including the El Niño Southern Oscillation, and changes on the average sea surface temperature. Yellowfin tuna showed a decreasing abundance trend in the sampled period, whereas higher abundances were found in shallow and warmer waters, with high concentration of chlorophyll-a, and in surrounding seamounts. In addition, El Niño Southern Oscillation events did not seem to affect Yellowfin tuna distribution and abundance. Understanding the habitat preferences of this species, using approaches as the one developed here, may help design integrated programs for more efficient management of vulnerable species.
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22
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White ER, Myers MC, Flemming JM, Baum JK. Shifting elasmobranch community assemblage at Cocos Island--an isolated marine protected area. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:1186-1197. [PMID: 25807991 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fishing pressure has increased the extinction risk of many elasmobranch (shark and ray) species. Although many countries have established no-take marine reserves, a paucity of monitoring data means it is still unclear if reserves are effectively protecting these species. We examined data collected by a small group of divers over the past 21 years at one of the world's oldest marine protected areas (MPAs), Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica. We used mixed effects models to determine trends in relative abundance, or probability of occurrence, of 12 monitored elasmobranch species while accounting for variation among observers and from abiotic factors. Eight of 12 species declined significantly over the past 2 decades. We documented decreases in relative abundance for 6 species, including the iconic scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) (-45%), whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) (-77%), mobula ray (Mobula spp.) (-78%), and manta ray (Manta birostris) (-89%), and decreases in the probability of occurrence for 2 other species. Several of these species have small home ranges and should be better protected by an MPA, which underscores the notion that declines of marine megafauna will continue unabated in MPAs unless there is adequate enforcement effort to control fishing. In addition, probability of occurrence at Cocos Island of tiger (Galeocerdo cuvier), Galapagos (Carcharhinus galapagensis), blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), and whale (Rhincodon typus) sharks increased significantly. The effectiveness of MPAs cannot be evaluated by examining single species because population responses can vary depending on life history traits and vulnerability to fishing pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Easton R White
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Mark C Myers
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, 144 McCollum Science Hall, Cedar Falls, IA, 50614-0421, U.S.A
| | - Joanna Mills Flemming
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University, 6316 Coburg Road, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Julia K Baum
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
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23
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Arias A. Understanding and managing compliance in the nature conservation context. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2015; 153:134-143. [PMID: 25697900 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nature conservation relies largely on peoples' rule adherence. However, noncompliance in the conservation context is common: it is one of the largest illegal activities in the world, degrading societies, economies and the environment. Understanding and managing compliance is key for ensuring effective conservation, nevertheless crucial concepts and tools are scattered in a wide array of literature. Here I review and integrate these concepts and tools in an effort to guide compliance management in the conservation context. First, I address the understanding of compliance by breaking it down into five key questions: who?, what?, when?, where? and why?. A special focus is given to 'why?' because the answer to this question explains the reasons for compliance and noncompliance, providing critical information for management interventions. Second, I review compliance management strategies, from voluntary compliance to coerced compliance. Finally, I suggest a system, initially proposed for tax compliance, to balance these multiple compliance management strategies. This paper differs from others by providing a broad yet practical scope on theory and tools for understanding and managing compliance in the nature conservation context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Arias
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
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