Marine Protected Areas: successes and setbacks #2

This topic submitted by Lauren Saulino ( saulinle@muohio.edu) at 1:40 PM on 5/11/08.

A few of our class poses at the sundial at the Lighthouse on San Salvador, Bahamas. See other beautiful phenomena from the Bahamas.

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

Marine Protected Areas: successes and setbacks
Oftentimes we think of protected areas as a means of preserving that which we seek protect. Protected Areas may differ in the reason for their establishment, the activities permitted within them, the means by which they are monitored and regulated, and the success with which they meet the goals of their establishment. I would like to research the status and success of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within The Bahamas.
Factors I will consider in my investigation include: time the MPA was established, reason for establishment, key species being protected, level of protection and relative success as well as the success of key species within and outside of "protected areas." I would also like to compare the management plan of these protected marine areas to comparable MPAs in other island systems.

Intro:
a. What are marine protected areas?
b. How many are there in the Bahamas Archipelago? (include maps)
c. When were each of these protected areas/reserves created?

Status of MPAs
a. Reasons for establishment of MPAs
a. Species being protected
b. Habitat being protected
b. Use of MPA
a. No-use zones
b. Research zones
c. No-extraction zones (tourism, no fisheries)
d. Mixed use zones (tourism and fisheries)
c. Management of MPA
a. Monitoring
b. Rules/Regulations
c. Management Plans
d. Responsible Parties (who is taking care of the MPA?)
d. Success/Failure
a. How do the MPAs compare
b. Ways that they are successful
c. Goals/objectives not being met
i. Reasons why there is lack of success

Conclusion
a. How do the Bahaman MPAs compare to those of similar islands
b. Room for change/improvement in MPA management or delineation
c. What is the future of the MPAs in Bahamas

References:
Agardy, Tundi, Peter Bridgewater, Michael P. Crosby, Jon Day, Paul K. Dayton, Richard Gerber, L.R., L.W. Botsford, A. Hastings, H.P. Possingham, S.D. Gaines, S.R. Palumbi, and S.J. Andelman. 2003. Population models for marine reserve design: A retrospective and prospective synthesis. Ecological Applications 13(Supp.): 47-64.

Kenchington, Dan Laffoley, et al. "Dangerous Targets? Unresolved Issues and Ideological Clashes Around Marine Protected Areas." Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 13, no. 4 (2003): 353-367.

Palumbi, S.R. 2004. Marine reserves and ocean neighborhoods: The spatial scale of marine populations and their management. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 29: 31-68.

Palumbi, S.R. 2002. Marine Reserves: An Ecosystem Tool for Marine Management and Conservation. Pew Oceans Commission Arlington, VA.

Petrosillo, I., G. Zurlini, M. E. Corlian÷, N. Zaccarelli, and M. Dadamo. "Tourist Perception of Recreational Environment and Management in a Marine Protected Area." Landscape and Urban Planning 79, no. 1 (2007): 29-37.

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