Marine Conservation: Good for Fish! Good for People? Giselle Samonte, Conservation International, USAXuanwen Wang, Conservation International, USAAdele Catzim, Belize ISIS Enterprises, BelizePatrick Fong, University of the South Pacific, FijiJuan Mate, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama Daniel Suman, University of Miami, USADiego Quiroga, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador Carlos Mena, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EcuadorLeah Karrer, Conservation International, USA

3rd National Forum on Socioeconomics Research

in Coastal Systems

May 26-28, 2010, New Orleans, Louisiana

People depend on oceans

• Worldwide fisheries catch value is US $80-85B annually• US$5.7B net benefit from coral reef fisheries• US $7.5K to $167.5 K /sq-km annually seafood market value from mangroves

What are Marine Managed Areas?

• multi-use, ocean zoning schemes of several types of sub-areas– no-take areas (e.g., no fishing)

– buffer zones with particular restrictions (e.g., no oil drilling)

• address different issues and objectives– multiple uses (e.g., fishing, tourism) – extractive human uses are allowed (e.g., fishing).– specific use restriction (e.g., local fishing)

To determine the socioeconomic effects of marine managed areas.

Objective

Socio-economic Variables

•Demographics•Household income•Resource use patterns•Local values and beliefs on marine resources•Level of understanding of human impact on resources

Governance is key to managing oceans

Perceptions on non-monetary benefits

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

% positive response

coral reefs mangroves coastal areas seaweed

Greater income

0

200

400

600

800

1000

MMA Beneficiaries (n=362) Non-MMA Beneficiaries (n=162)

Respondents

Mar

ine

Rel

ated

In

com

e (U

S $

) Mean

Lower95% CI

Upper95% CI

2.

Diversity of marine related livelihood-Cross Node (%)

Fishing, 71.3

Tourism, 18.3

,Boat Driver/Diver10.0 Other, 0.4

% Respondents with tourism related livelihoods inaddition to fishing

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

MMA Beneficiaries (n=1,173) Non-MMA Beneficiaries(n=1,211)

Respondents

Mean

Lower95% CI

Upper95% CI

More diversified livelihoods

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Environmental Awarness

Perc

enta

ge

Mean

Lower95% CI

Upper95% CI

Improved environmental awareness

MMA beneficiaries consume fish/seafood almost daily (ie, every 2 days); 35% perceive that their health situation has improved

compared to 10 years ago;

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Much better or better(n=540)

Neither better or worse(n=618)

Much worse or worse(n=365)

Perception on health

Per

cent

age

Mean

Lower95% CI

Upper95% CI

Managing oceans for human well-being

Economic incentives

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