Incentivizing local people for marine conservation

Chris Poonian and Patricia DavisCommunity Centred Conservation (C3)

Case study #1 : Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines

One of the most important sites for the dugong in the Philippines

Local threats:

•Previously hunted using nets, prong, hook, harpoon, and dynamite and meat sold openly

•Nowadays, incidental capture in fishing nets is likely the most significant threat

• Dugong reliant on shallow coastal seagrass and thus shares almost all its habitat with humans

• Support and involvement of local communities is therefore key to ensuring the survival of the dugong in the Philippines

Involving fishing communities in dugong research

•Key Informant Interviews

•Dugong sighting register

Raising awareness

•Novel ideas – Dugong ‘ecobag’, Iphone app

•Community workshops and school activity days

Case study #2 : KIA ISLAND, FIJI

Issues

•Great Sea Reef - the third largest barrier reef system in the world

•Over 80% of the island relies on fishing as their primary source of income

•Locally Managed MPAs – but erratic compliance

•Opening of closed areas leads to periodic heavy exploitation

Humphead Wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus)

•Largest reef-dwelling teleost (2m)

•Vulnerable to fishing pressure

•Live reef fish trade

•Spawning aggregations

•Red List: Endangered; CITES: Appendix II

Humphead Wrasse global distribution (Sadovy et al. 2004)

•Fiji - Eastern edge of the species’ range

•Decline in national reported catch

-1998:12 tonnes

-2002: 3 tonnes

•Trade prohibited under Fijian Law (since 2002) - FJ$5,000 or imprisonment

‘Draudrau’

Data collection

•Expert fisher interviews (n=21)

•Humphead Wrasse landings

-aim to record every fish landed in 2012

•Community members involved

In the past Nowadays

How many caught annually?

‘300’

‘200 or 300’

‘100 or 200’

‘100’

’40 or 50’

’20 or 30’

‘10’

‘4’

‘60 to 80’

Actual catch during 2012

– at least 198 fish!

Monthly catch

Jan – mid-FebMPA open to generate funds for school fees

26 Mar - Funeral

30 May -

Turaga-ni-Koro bans capture of Humphead Wrasse

Cultural significance

•Feasts, funerals, other community events

•Mototeivovo – (hump area) is reserved for high-ranking chiefs

•Grade B / C – FJ$4-6 / kg but BIG

•Jewelry - upper jaw made into necklaces

Management

•Widespread awareness of laws

BUT

•Lack of enforcement

•Ready market – Chinese fish traders

•Government fish wardens not trusted

Management•Low community awareness of humphead wrasse life history

•Adaptive management and self-enforcement by community

-remoteness of site

-’luxury fish’ not critical source of livelihood

•Improved understanding of population status – in situ surveys

Case study #3 : NOSY HARA MARINE PARK, MADAGASCAR

Critical ecosystems and endangered species

•Sea turtles

•Dugongs

•Sharks

•Nearshore fisheries

•Coral Reefs

•Mangroves

Community motivation• Community optimistic, but skeptical due to

past issues with Park authorities

• Socioeconomic benefits of MPA a key issue

• Incursions continue

• Our project aims to generate direct benefits for good environmental stewardship

Socioeconomic needs

Socioeconomic surveys identified main community needs to be:

• Maternal health care (esp. delivery)• Clean water supply• Ecotourism development (external

operators focus on islands)• Support for secondary school access

Community service provisions in return for environmental performance

Dugong aspects include :-Ban on gill nets in key areas-Reduction of dugong mortality to zero

Adaptive performance monitoring system is key – now under development with the community

Environmental Stewardship Agreements

Capacity building

• 50 + students from University of Antsiranana

• 10 National Parks staff

trained in :

• Habitat mapping & monitoring

• Socioeconomic surveys

• Endangered species biology and conservation

‘We have now learned that by protecting our marine environment, we are saving the future of our fisheries…and our own future’

-Village elder in Ampasindava

Thanks!Donors and partners

www.c-3.org.uk& Community members