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Figure 1. Location of the marine protected areas (MPAs) included in the present study. BAN = Banyuls,
BER = Bergeggi, BON = Bonifacio, CAB = Cabrera, COL = Columbretes, COT = Côte Bleue, CRE = Cap de
Creus, CRO = Port Cros, EGA = Egadi, GAT = Cabo de Gata, KOR = Kornati, LAS = Lastovo, MED = Medes,
PAL = Cabo de Palos, PLE = Plemmirio, POR = Portofino, SCA = Scandola, SIN = Penisola del Sinis,
TAV = Tavolara, TEL = Telašćica, TOR = Torre Guaceto, TRE = Tremiti, UST = Ustica, ZAK = Zakynthos. For
details on each MPA see Supplementary Table S1. Map was generated using the open source QGis software
version 2.6.1 (http://www.qgis.org/en/site/).

The three outcomes, defined on a binary scale denoting presence or absence (1 or 0 respectively), were added to
build a compound score termed ‘overall management success (OMS)’. OMS ranges from 0 to 3, or from total
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failure to high success, and captures the well-being of SSF coastal system, including both human and non-human
elements. Finally, we assessed the strength and significance of the correlative relationships between the OMS,
the three outcomes, and the set of attributes in order to highlight the circumstances that determine successful
win-win management.

Results and Discussion
Sixty-four percent of MPAs showed ecological effectiveness, 68% showed economic benefits for fishermen and
60% showed commitment of fishermen to the environment (hereinafter “fishermen environmental commit-
ment”). Overall, 40% of MPAs were highly successful (OMS = 3). Given the substantial proportion of unsuccess-
ful MPAs (36% with OMS = 0 or 1), we highlight that establishing MPAs per se does not suffice to solve ecological,
economic and social challenges related to SSF management. When the goals of an MPA are not met, and the
potential benefits are not obtained, stakeholder’s support towards MPAs can be negatively influenced, potentially
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leading to a negative attitude and reduction in compliance .
This study identified key attributes of MPA and SSFs that can achieve conservation goals while at the same
time maintaining profitability in SSFs. These attributes can also drive Blue Growth (i.e. sustainable ocean-based
economy) and contribute positively to targets required at the international level 10,12 . The identification of key
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attributes is particularly crucial considering the number of underperforming MPAs .
Using random forests and the Boruta add-on algorithm we highlight that the five most important attributes
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that significantly affect the OMS are: (1) MPA enforcement, (2) fishermen engagement into MPA SSF management,
(3) presence of fishermen within the management board, (4) presence of an incentive promoting sustainable fishing,
(5) the existence of a management plan for SSF (Fig. 2).
HDI (Human Development Index; a proxy for country development) also contributed significantly in deter-
mining OMS and was ranked as the sixth most important attribute. The average Relative Importance (RI) of HDI
was closer to the two tentative attributes (i.e., the portion of each MPA covered by no-take zone and the restriction
of fishing rights exclusive) than to the other five confirmed attributes. Likewise, HDI average RI was lower than
the lowest RI of the first five attributes. Unlike the first five confirmed attributes, HDI cannot be altered by MPA
management bodies to reach successful management of SSFs. Because HDI is beyond the control of management
boards and its low RI, we do not include HDI in the pool of the key attributes that can increase marine protected
area performance for small-scale fisheries management.
When focusing on the effect of the attributes on each outcome, it is clear that significant attributes differ
depending on the focus outcome (Fig. 2), reinforcing the concept that fisheries and MPAs are complex SES 33,34,44 .
Given this complexity, management must address problems related not only to the resources themselves, but also
to the stakeholders targeting them.
MPA enforcement was identified as the attribute with the highest RI. Specifically, OMS is higher in MPAs with
high enforcement than in MPAs with low or medium enforcement (Fig. 3), with a similar pattern for each of the
three single outcomes. It is generally well-known that the cessation of poaching because of high enforcement
has ecological benefits 21,22 because fish communities and populations are able to thrive. Nevertheless, the strong

Scientific RepoRts | 6:38135 | DOI: 10.1038/srep38135 3