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Sustainable financing of a national Marine Protected Area network in Fiji

Ison, Sierra and Hills, Jeremy and Morris, Cherie and Stead, Selina M. (2018) Sustainable financing of a national Marine Protected Area network in Fiji. Ocean and Coastal Management, 163 . pp. 352-363. ISSN 0964-5691

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Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are mostly studied from an environmental context. A review of available information identified a lack of knowledge in sustainable mechanisms to finance MPA networks. At the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2017, Fiji reaffirmed its voluntary commitment to make 30% of its inshore and offshore marine area MPAs by 2020 under Sustainable Development Goal 14. The work presented here uses empirical data to explore potential benefits from selected community-based MPAs to recipient local stakeholders.A Willingness to Pay (WTP) and Willingness to Contribute Time (WtCT) method was used to explore the extent to which bottom-up governance systems represent a potential financing mechanism of a MPA network. Results of 115 interviews concluded that proximity to a fishing market, dependence on marine resources, food security, income and international commitments were significant variables influencing stakeholder's WTP and WtCT to manage a MPA. We argue that there is a discrepancy between WtCT and WTP driven by income constraints. Thus, by using WTP and WtCT to support financing of a MPA network, a Provincial Trust Fund (PTF)could promote an equitable and benefits-based contribution. Equally important, a PTF has a polycentric and decentralized governance model, which endorses sustainable management of traditional fishing communities. The conclusions provide insight into a bottom-up approach for long-term financial sustainability of Fiji's national MPA commitments.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HG Finance
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > Institute of Marine Resources
Depositing User: Cherie Morris
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2018 03:33
Last Modified: 16 Aug 2018 03:33
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/10941
UNSPECIFIED

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