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Biol. Mar. Mediterr. (2015), 22 (1): 38-39

G. D’Anna, C. Pipitone, T. Vega Fernández, G. Garofalo*, F. Badalamenti

Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) - CNR,
Via Giovanni da Verrazzano, 17 - 91026 Castellammare del Golfo (TP), Italia.

giovanni.danna@cnr.it
*CNR-IAMC, Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italia.

STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE
OF THE EGADI ISLANDS MARINE PROTECTED AREA (W SICILY)

LA GOVERNANCE DELL’AREA MARINA PROTETTA
ISOLE EGADI (SICILIA OCCIDENTALE)

SECONDO LA PROSPETTIVA DEGLI STAKEHOLDER

Abstract - A governance analysis has been conducted in the Egadi Islands MPA. Twenty-three
interviews were conducted in eight stakeholder groups. Fisheries vs conservation, tourism vs conservation
and fisheries vs tourism conflicts were identified. The analysis suggests that the top-down approach used
in the MPA creation and management has hampered participation and acceptance, although in recent
years steps were taken towards a larger involvement of stakeholders in the governance process.
Key-words: Egadi MPA, governance analysis, stakeholder perception, conflicts, uncertainty.

Introduction - Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a tool for spatial management
of human uses in the maritime domain. However, their success depends on the
implementation of a governance framework that moves away from a sectoral
management approach and goes towards an integrated process. Established in 1991,
the Egadi Islands MPA is a large and complex system of spatially-based sectoral
initiatives For this reason it has been selected to carry out a governance analysis
focused on stakeholder perspectives about the management and conservation of the
marine resources around the islands.

Materials and methods - Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted
in 2012 within 8 stakeholder groups (fishers, public administration staff, local
fisheries management plan staff, enforcement bodies, trade associations, tourist
companies, non-profit organizations) in order to identify their perspectives about the
MPA governance. Interviews were recorded and conflicts, integration, participation,
transparency and accountability, equity-justice and uncertainty issues related to the
MPA were analyzed.

Results - Primary (fisheries vs conservation, tourism vs conservation) and
secondary (fisheries vs tourism) inter-sectoral conflicts were identified. Trawl, small-
scale and recreational fisheries conflict with conservation. The conflict between
small-scale fishery and conservation appeared less intense due to the perception that
the MPA generates alternative incomes (tourist fishing excursions, boat trips, etc.). A
conflict between recreational fishing and conservation stemmed from the interviews
but no conflict between diving and conservation emerged. Boat excursions and trips
were considered among the most impacting tourist activities. Most interviewees
expressed strong - generally negative - considerations against the large charter boat
trips which are thought to conflict with the coastal marine environment. The intra-
sectoral conflict between artisanal and trawl fishers is generated by illegal coastal
trawling and by competition for space. Catches exceeding the legal limit and
sale of the catch by recreational fishers generate a conflict between artisanal and
recreational fishers. Low integration and high tensions characterize the relationship
among and within activities based on fisheries, conservation and tourism. Economic