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Locally managed marine areas: implications for socio - economic impacts in Kadavu, Fiji

Robertson, Thomas and Greenhalgh, Suzie and Korovulavula, Isoa T. and Tikoibua, Tomasi and Radikedike, Pio and Stahlmann-Brown, Philip (2020) Locally managed marine areas: implications for socio - economic impacts in Kadavu, Fiji. Marine Policy, 117 (103950). NA. ISSN 0308-597X

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Abstract

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a widely used marine conservation tool designed to preserve marine biodiversity and improve fisheries management. Although the environmental benefits of MPAs are well established, evaluating the social and economic impacts of MPAs is challenging. In this paper we quantitatively identify the economic and social differences between communities based on whether or not the community has a tabu area in their local fishing ground. This is an area permanently closed to fishing within a locally managed marine area (LMMA), a form of MPA in the Pacific region. To do this we analyse survey data at both the household and village level in Kadavu, an administrative province of Fiji. We find there are differences in economic activity and diet between the communities but little difference in overall income and wealth. Our study shows that villages with an active tabu area have more positive social outcomes in terms of perceptions of LMMAs. However, there are some notable negative social outcomes as well. In particular, we find that households not engaged in commercial fishing perceive conflict around the management of marine resources. We also find that households engaged in commercial fishing believe penalties for violating LMMA rules are high. Together, these results could potentially impede the adoption of LMMAs and tabu areas. Overall, our survey results do not indicate that tabu areas are detrimental or beneficial on the whole, either economically and socially.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > Institute of Applied Science
Depositing User: Gilianne Brodie
Date Deposited: 06 Jan 2021 01:21
Last Modified: 06 Jan 2021 01:21
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/12517
UNSPECIFIED

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