Page 6 - Himes_2007

ARTICLE IN PRESS
334 A.H. Himes / Ocean & Coastal Management 50 (2007) 329–351

Fig. 2. The Egadi Islands Marine Reserve.

profile environmental organizations. Rarely were local peoples’ issues, ideas, or objections
considered. In the Egadi Islands, the main proponents of the MPA were local
environmental groups that successfully lobbied the Ministry of Environment to create a
protected area to eliminate the threat of oil drilling in local waters. Local residents and
fishermen were not given the opportunity to comment on MPA design and most have been
adamantly opposed to its existence from the beginning. This is important because local
residents and fishermen interact with local resources on a daily basis and their actions are
directly correlated with regulatory compliance. They feel that the MPA as it exists is
worthless and refuse to believe it could benefit them in the long run under current
management, all of which assists in the EIMR’s failure to meet management objectives.
The EIMR is partitioned into four zones, A, B, C, and D, with varying levels of
restriction. Zone A can be considered a no-take/no-entry area where only permitted
research can take place. Zone B allows only general non-consumptive uses (e.g.,
swimming, boating beyond 500 m from the coast). In Zone C, all non-consumptive uses
and permitted recreational and commercial fishing are allowed, with the exception of
trawling. In Zone D, all activity is allowed; only trawling has limitations. At inception, the
EIMR was given six stated objectives: (1) protect the local environment, (2) protect the
local biological resources, (3) educate the public about the unique characteristics of local