WATER PLANET
104
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FALL 2012
Below, from left: Shark fins drying
in the now shut down shark-finning
camp in Misool, Indonesia.
A frogfish clings to a sponge in
Dumaguete, Philippines.
T
he marine habitats we love are degrading
rapidly. As important centers of biodiversity
remain unprotected, it becomes increasingly
likely our children will never experience
the same abundance of underwater life we’ve enjoyed.
Government protection of marine resources is spotty, and
nongovernmental organizations are often overworked and
underfunded. But as coastal communities are empowered to
take active roles in safeguarding their local natural resources,
grassroots marine protected areas (MPAs) can result.
By providing sustainable employment opportunities
and injecting lease fees into local economies, these MPAs
use ecotourism to enhance ocean protection. As these
communities and private enterprises forge long-term,
mutually dependent relationships, both gain constant
reminders of the value of the MPAs. Here we take a closer
look at four success stories.
Panabulan Sanctuary —
Dumaguete, Philippines
In the Philippines, where dive tourism is a well-established
industry, communities recognize the important role marine
sanctuaries play in attracting divers and enriching local
economies. Municipalities have established networks of
small coastal sanctuaries that are off-limits to fishing and
harvesting; designation of sanctuaries is at the discretion of
each municipality’s mayor.
Ten years ago, Panabulan Sanctuary in Maayong Tubig
(
Negros Oriental) was established to protect an important
stretch of healthy reefs. Seven years later it was expanded
to include an area with large numbers of mandarinfish,
and it now covers about 32 acres. Atmosphere Resorts has
done an incredible job fostering community stewardship
of the sanctuary’s reefs. Coral cover and coral health have
noticeably improved. The area now teems with rare and
exciting macrolife such as mandarinfish, frogfish, flamboyant
cuttlefish, ghostpipefish and tiny lobsters. Turtles are also
found in greater numbers, resting and feeding undisturbed
in the protected waters.
Divers, snorkelers and swimmers pay entry fees that cover
upkeep costs and salaries for guards. Other community
members work as dive guides and resort employees; shared
benefits ensure the long-term sustainability of these sanctuaries.
Misool Eco Resort Marine Conservation
Agreements — Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Raja Ampat, the crown jewel of the Coral Triangle, is the
epicenter of world marine biodiversity. More than 1,400
species of reef fish exist in this archipelago, which covers
almost 18,000 square miles. In a sample area the size of two
football fields, scientists discovered more than six times
as many coral species as live in the entire Caribbean Sea.
Charismatic marine life including giant manta rays, reef
sharks and dolphins are frequently encountered as are tiny
creatures such as frogfish, pygmy seahorses and flasher
wrasse. Until very recently, this area was exploited for the
very resources that make it so spectacular.
In 2005 Misool Eco Resort partnered with the local
community to stop rampant shark finning and unchecked
fishing in South Raja Ampat. These activities — perpetrated
by outsiders — devastated local fishing grounds and
threatened the health of some of Earth’s most biodiverse
reefs. Misool Eco Resort secured a lease to establish a marine
conservation agreement (MCA) that covers 140 square miles
in which all fishing and other extractive practices are strictly
prohibited. In 2010 the partners expanded the agreement to
create a 160-square-mile MCA in the nearby Daram Islands.
In concert with the Nature Conservancy and WildAid,
Misool Eco Resort is now working to establish and enforce a
series of MCAs in southern Raja Ampat.
Grassroots
Marine
Protected
Areas
B y S h a w n H e i n r i c h s
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