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Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). Ron Vave1, Hugh Govan2, Wendy Tan2 & William Aalbersberg1 1Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific, Fiji 2Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) Network WWF COP11 Side Event: MPAs for People & Sustainable Development 15th October, 2012
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Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) Ron Vave1, Hugh Govan2, Wendy Tan2 & William Aalbersberg1 1Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific, Fiji 2Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) Network WWF COP11 Side Event: MPAs for People & Sustainable Development 15th October, 2012 Hydarabad, India
BACKGROUND TO ASIA PACIFIC LMMA NETWORK • Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) network • To empower communities to sustainably manage their natural resources • Started in 2000 • Covers 7 countries (Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Pohnpei & Palau)
Advocacy Management systems Network financing CN strengthening Learning
Network of LMMAsLocally Managed Marine Areas • 7 COUNTRIES • 420 LMMA Sites • 600 villages • 13,000km2 of fishing ground • 1,400km2 of MPAs
Fiji LMMA (FLMMA) • Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area (FLMMA) Network – started 1997, formalized in 2001, registered as a non-charitable organization by 2004 • 2012: • 20 partner organizations (4 Govt, 13 NGOs & 2 Universities) • 1 MPA (1997) > 386 MPAs (2012) • Dual governance (Co-management > Local management) - government, science-based decisions - communities, traditional management practices • Overfishing driven by population growth and efficient technology , made worse by climate change
U.S. Peace Corp South Pacific Projects Coral Reef Alliance Fiji National University
FLMMA works in 47% or 192 of Fijis 410 fishing grounds By 2012: 386 Tabu or MPAs (in red)
Benefits to coastal communities & fisheries • More fish to eat • More income from fishing • Restored degraded reefs and extirpated species • Provided opportunities to develop alternative income sources • Protected fish aggregation sites • Foster social and community relations • Organized women fishers – Women Managed Area in Mangroves • Community ownership & project sustainability • Revive traditional practice, knowledge & language
Benefits to coastal communities & fisheries • Community and country exchanges in best practice & lessons learnt • Combined knowledge (TEK & Western science). Rigorous science on community questions at LMMA sites • Work with non-indigenous communities & commercial fishermen • Stregnthened partnership between Government, NGOs, Universities & the local communities • Local communities driving Asia-Pacific LMMA network (Community heart & ownership) • Community voice at national & regional/international level discussion and/or decision making regading inshore fisheries
RESULTS:Improved fish abundance & biomass • Significantly greater density of total fish abundance inside MPAs (Pre-harvest of Kia Island MPA) – Jupiter et al 2012 • Significantly greater amount of total fish biomass inside MPAs (Kubulau & Kia Island MPAs) • Significantly greater density of targeted fish abundance inside MPAs (Goetze et al, 2011) – Namena Island (Bua) • Significantly greater amount of herbivorous fish inside MPAs resulting in increased grazing thus leading to reduction in macroalgae (Waqairagata et al, 2011)
More herbivorous fish inside MPAs Waqairagata et al 2011 MPA Fished Area
More herbivorous fish inside MPAs = More grazing(Improved habitat health) Waqairagata et al 2011
Improved fish catch (Mgmt plan review) Tawake et al 2011
Improved fish catch • Significantly greater CPUE/BPUE inside MPA • Significantly greater catch diversity within intact MPAs • Significantly greater proportion of fish above size reproductive maturity in MPAs Clements 2012
Greater catch diversity within intact MPAs • Significantly greater catch diversity within intact MPAs Clements 2012
More mature fish in MPAs • More sexually mature fish in MPAs except in Komave Clements 2012 Size at Sexual Maturity (SSM)
LMMA- Improving Household Income growth Tawake et al 2011
Unity and Social Cohesion Tawake et al 2011
CONCLUSION • Focus on communities interests (Food & Income ≠ Biodiversity) • Communities efforts can collectively make an impact • Community trust & ownership is important. Use existing local governance structures • Partnership between indigenous and non-indigenous comunities • Change doesn’t happen overnight • Local empowerment/passion can ensure sustainability of projects • Encourage cross-site & cross-country exchange
Acknowledgements • Asia-Pacific and FLMMA partners and sites for willingness to take part in the assessment (Tawake et al) • Scientific literature (Cody Clements, Stacy Jupiter & Fulori Waqairagata) • FLMMA & LMMA Network Learning group • David & Lucille Packard Foundation, MacArthur Foundation & Foundation of Success