MPA Center Publishes Comprehensive Report on Current State of MPA
Enforcement
The MPA Center has published, “Enforcing U.S. Marine Protected Areas:
Synthesis Report,” which details the challenges, needs, and suggestions
of coastal and marine resource managers, enforcement agencies,
attorneys, education/outreach specialists, and numerous other public and
private stakeholders.
Using interviews and case studies, the authors summarize existing
literature on MPA enforcement, examine a range of perspectives on the
issue, and provide suggestions for effective enforcement of MPAs.
Through this process, the authors discovered that MPA enforcement
regulations are authorized under seven federal laws, which fall under
the jurisdiction of at least four federal agencies. They also learned
that the majority of violations cases are settled prior to
administrative hearings. Additional findings include:
* Enforcement of MPAs can be more difficult than their land-based
counterparts due to unseen boundaries, an unlimited number of
entry points, and incomplete information on the status of marine
resources.
* MPA enforcement can be relatively expensive.
* Some studies claim that MPAs could prove to be easier and less
expensive to enforce than traditional fishery management measures
(i.e., size limits and gear restrictions).
* Relatively little has been written on MPA enforcement, and no
interagency studies of enforcement previously existed to support
the development of an improved national MPA system.
The final section of the report includes suggestions and recommendations
from both interviewed sources and previously published sources. These
are not necessarily the views of the MPA Center, but may help stimulate
further exploration, discussion, and analysis to improve MPA
enforcement. The recommendations are listed according to topic:
* Increasing and maintaining adequate enforcement presence
* Promoting voluntary compliance
* Benefiting from technologies
* Strengthening partnerships
* Regulatory considerations for improved MPA enforceability
* Boundary and siting considerations for improved MPA enforceability
* Imposing sanctions for MPA violations
* Improving litigation/prosecution of MPA enforcement actions
* Meeting science and information needs
The 67-page report is available on
highlights various aspects of the report was given at the recent Coastal
Zone ’05 conference in New Orleans, and is available at
http://www.mpa.gov/information_tools/pdf/mpaenforcement-davis.pdf.
MPA Center Publishes Comprehensive Report on Current State of MPA
Enforcement
The MPA Center has published, “Enforcing U.S. Marine Protected Areas:
Synthesis Report,” which details the challenges, needs, and suggestions
of coastal and marine resource managers, enforcement agencies,
attorneys, education/outreach specialists, and numerous other public and
private stakeholders.
Using interviews and case studies, the authors summarize existing
literature on MPA enforcement, examine a range of perspectives on the
issue, and provide suggestions for effective enforcement of MPAs.
Through this process, the authors discovered that MPA enforcement
regulations are authorized under seven federal laws, which fall under
the jurisdiction of at least four federal agencies. They also learned
that the majority of violations cases are settled prior to
administrative hearings. Additional findings include:
* Enforcement of MPAs can be more difficult than their land-based
counterparts due to unseen boundaries, an unlimited number of
entry points, and incomplete information on the status of marine
resources.
* MPA enforcement can be relatively expensive.
* Some studies claim that MPAs could prove to be easier and less
expensive to enforce than traditional fishery management measures
(i.e., size limits and gear restrictions).
* Relatively little has been written on MPA enforcement, and no
interagency studies of enforcement previously existed to support
the development of an improved national MPA system.
The final section of the report includes suggestions and recommendations
from both interviewed sources and previously published sources. These
are not necessarily the views of the MPA Center, but may help stimulate
further exploration, discussion, and analysis to improve MPA
enforcement. The recommendations are listed according to topic:
* Increasing and maintaining adequate enforcement presence
* Promoting voluntary compliance
* Benefiting from technologies
* Strengthening partnerships
* Regulatory considerations for improved MPA enforceability
* Boundary and siting considerations for improved MPA enforceability
* Imposing sanctions for MPA violations
* Improving litigation/prosecution of MPA enforcement actions
* Meeting science and information needs
The 67-page report is available on
highlights various aspects of the report was given at the recent Coastal
Zone ’05 conference in New Orleans, and is available at
http://www.mpa.gov/information_tools/pdf/mpaenforcement-davis.pdf.