Page 7 - Badalamenti_Ramos_2000

116 F. Badalamenti et al.

the MPAs of Portofino and delle Cinque Terre (Liguria, Dixon (1993) investigated the compatibility of tourism
Italy), Port Cros and the MPAs of the Côte Bleue near the and protected area conservation in the Caribbean, where, in
cities of Marseille and Toulon in France, and the MPAs of 1990, at least one-fifth of the income generated by tourism
Medes Islands (near Barcelona) and Cape Creus (Spain; Fig. was derived from diving and other kinds of special-interest
1, Table 1). MPAs in the vicinity of urban, industrialized or activities. A significant economic return was derived from
wealthier areas will face quite different pressures from those tourism in the Virgin Islands and the Dutch Antilles (Dixon
at the other end of the scale. In these areas, fishers are used to 1993). Measures have been adopted to control tourism in
the presence of large numbers of people and often have more these MPAs, including the imposition of fees for diving.
than one occupation. For these reasons, the impact of MPAs Bonaire Marine Park in the Caribbean has been the object of
on the activities of fishers may be smaller and better-tolerated the most comprehensive study (Dixon 1993; Dixon et al.
in comparison with isolated areas. It is likely that fishers will 1993), and there a large part of the economy of the island can
develop their secondary activities and gain benefit from be considered to be derived from the MPA. Signs of an
MPAs. Moreover, it is less likely that they will have to excessive growth in tourism which is beginning to damage
compete with outsiders, as can happen in more remote the natural resources have been perceived, and such a situ-
MPAs. In this case, the tourists include those coming from ation could conceivably lead to the collapse of tourism and
the immediate vicinity of the MPA who will mostly benefit thus the economy of the area. Tourism could nonetheless be
from the new services. It is also likely that income from MPA safely increased through improved management practices
activities will be shared almost entirely within the same such as promoting diver education, rotating diving sites,
community. Inhabitants of the surrounding area may also spacing-out divers, regulating underwater photography and
gain benefits of a cultural kind from didactic courses, scien- promoting better buoyancy control by divers (Dixon et al.
tific activities and cultural events in general. A new and 1993).
diversified tourism is also likely. MPAs will attract young In the Philippines, a community-based MPA has been
people and environmentally-oriented tourists from afar, and instituted to protect a coral reef in collaboration with the local
natural resources can be exploited all year round and inserted fishing community. These fishers gave their approval to the
into tourist ‘packages’ offered in conjunction with the cities creation of the MPA and took responsibility for policing it.
and towns near MPAs. From interviews, the fishers appeared to be aware of the
However, this vision may be optimistic. Tourists and resi- importance of the MPA and were convinced of its effective-
dent people, especially if not involved in planning MPAs, can ness, and there were, moreover, signs of a recovery in the fish
see protection as a menace in the same way as residents of community (White & Savina 1987).
isolated places can. As an example of this, restrictions enforced In more economically-developed areas, consensus-
on navigation in the Portofino area in Italy have provoked building approaches can be implemented, with extensive
strong opposition from habitual tourists who see the freedom public involvement (Bohnsack 1997). Through such a
of movement of their vessels being curbed. At the inception of strategy, the consensus of local inhabitants can be gained by
the Portofino MPA in the summer of 1998, it was necessary to relatively simple measures such as defining shared common
review a number of the restrictions and regulations of the goals, producing a clear legislative mandate and ensuring a
MPA, although a socio-economic study of the area had been continued commitment on the part of stakeholders and
carried out beforehand (Diviacco et al. 1992; Tunesi & agency participants. The main drawback to this approach is
Diviacco 1993). Furthermore, the inhabitants of larger towns the large amount of time, money and expertise required to
and cities will have more resources at their disposal to oppose develop plans and bring them to fruition.
the changes in access that MPA creation requires.
The importance of involving the fishing community

Non-Mediterranean countries To improve the success of MPAs it is essential to involve the
local inhabitants as much as possible (White & Savina 1987;
The distinction between MPAs located in economically White 1989; Brechin et al. 1991; Fiske 1992; Salm & Clark
developed areas and those in more depressed or developing 1994; Bersales 1996; Caldecott 1996). Local fishers can
zones has validity also for countries outside the provide valuable contributions through their knowledge of
Mediterranean (Walters & Butler 1995). In both cases the the area, assisting in the choice of the most suitable site to be
involvement of local communities has been recognized as placed under protection and providing useful information for
fundamental (Salm & Clark 1984; Wells & White 1995; its successful management (Neis 1995). It is also fundamental
Bohnsack 1997). Once again, the problems encountered and to provide local communities with as much information as
the solutions proposed are obviously quite different for possible about new initiatives and to avoid imposing changes.
MPAs in areas with strong economies as is the case for In some cases, changes in the attitudes and perceptions of
example where a fishing industry is present (Bohnsack 1997) fishers have been detected after the inception of MPAs. Thus
compared to those of a weak or depressed economy (White & in New Zealand, despite the initial opposition of fishers to the
Savina 1987; Andersson & Ngazi 1995). establishment of the Leigh Marine Reserve, 78% later