Working Group 2B: What is the role of institutional frameworks and ...

How do institutions such as ministriesinteract/communicate/collaborate? or do they? What is theeffectiveness of these arrangements or institutions?• In many countries there is inadequate collaboration and in need forimprovement.• In many countries the cabinet can act as a referee.• Where action oriented inter-ministerial committees exists,collaboration can generally be improved.• Sometimes it is spontaneous collaboration amongst actors ifcommon interests are recognized.• Can be good collaboration in lower levels of government even if it islacking at the top.• Sometimes multi sector projects can bring agencies together.• Sometimes new funds (e.g. MPA trust fund) can bring agenciestogether.

What has the process been in redesigning or establishing newinstitutions to enable better collaboration? What have been themain obstacles?• The need for an overarching agency for integrated ocean management to resolveoverlaps and to accommodate emerging/new concepts.• Regular review of institutional arrangements and management measuresincluding MPAs can drive improvements in design• Recognition of the overly complex nature of process for regulating different sortsof marine activities has driven processes in the UK• Recognition of the overly complex nature of process for regulating MPAs hasdriven processes in Mozambique to create one agency or new procedures.• Obstacles:– Inter-agency/sectorial competition for ocean space.– Can make a mistake of misplacement of institutional arrangement. E.g.• Mozambique – Placement in Tourism Ministry• Malaysia (CTI) – placement in Ministry of Science and Technology– Unwillingness to give up control over decision making– Lack of lead agency and champions

What are key considerations and incentives in moving towardbetter collaboration between institutions?• Legislative requirements to cooperate• Realization of mutual benefits of cooperation in term of better use ofresources.• Showing the benefits to fisheries managers on how MPAs can assist inachieving their goals, targets and commitments.• Showing the benefits to MPA managers of working with fisheriesmanagers e.g. outreach to fishery community.• Showing conservation agencies that conservation objectives can beachieved through a variety of sector based tools in addition to MPAs.• Sometimes fisheries closures can be put into place more quickly thanMPAs.• Need to respect each others mandate• Scaling up to large scale eco-regions can provide more flexibility than afocus on single areas

How does reconciliation work within the framework ofco‐management or a community led structure• Need a mechanism for community to share the benefits ofprotection particularly when revenue is generated.• Social contracts for allocation of roles, responsibilities, andaccountability and shared benefits between local communities,private sectors and governments should be encouraged• Importance of local and traditional knowledge and use of marinebiodiversity (including genetic resources) needs to beacknowledged and respected• Community led initiatives for better management of a specific areamay bring institutions together• Champions within communities are also able to facilitate /influencecollaboration between groups

How does reconciliation work within the framework of the highseas?• International commitments through international agreements/treaties, UN resolutions and declarations can establish mandatefor reconciliation (eg. mandate for protection of biodiversity in UNFish Stocks Agreement and UN deep sea resolutions)• Fisheries and other sectoral conventions can be updated to includeexplicit conservation mandate• Joint meetings of the parties at the regional level can build trust• Developing memoranda of understanding can facilitatecooperation, eg. NEAFC/OSPAR experience• Development of common science platform. E.g ICES in NorthAtlantic (WIOMSA potential)• Mechanisms for enhancing collaboration at regional levels need tobe shared and elaborated

Are MPA managers across regions sufficiently connected? Arethere social and governance networks that assist in improvingmanagement?• There are networks between MPA managers, but in need of supportand expansion (e.g. West African, Western Indian Ocean and Bay ofBengal).• The Global Environment Facility supports an exchange of learningacross the Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) program managers(International Waters Learn Network)• LME transboundary diagnostic analysis process wherein nationalexperts have to provide information for regional analysis helps tobuild trust and collaboration at regional level• Regional fishery body secretariats network helps to shareexperiences and best practices• Meetings within and between regional seas organisations help toshare experiences and best practices• Meetings of the two above should be encouraged

Can South‐South/North-South governance structures be adaptedacross cultures?• Different types of exchange programs including government,industry and community leaders need to be encouraged• The benefits of such exchange programs can be substantial but arenot yet well documented• Despite differences in cultures, can frequently find a topic ofcommon interest and relevance• Emerging example of North-South cooperation is the partnershipbetween the OSPAR and Abidjan Conventions• Capacity development for sustainable fisheries and MPAmanagement as well as larger scale marine spatial planning andmanagement should be a larger part of the national aid packages

What are the institutional lessons learned? at both thegovernmental/ministerial level and within local and communitystructures?• Progress can come from initiatives from the top, from thebottom from outside, and/or from the bottom withininstitutions• High level commitment to collaboration as well as mandatee.g. legislative framework, for the organisations tocollaborate for biodiversity conservation often essential toprogress• Collaboration is encouraged when agencies are required toshow evidence of their prior consultation with other agenciesand stakeholders before taking an issue or new policyproposal to cabinet for consideration• Communication on different levels needs to be built on trust

What are the institutional lessons learned? at both thegovernmental/ministerial level and within local and communitystructures? (cont)• Collaboration and effective communication may beencouraged through bringing regional bodies for fisheriesand conservation together on a regular basis• Regional /multi-national level, consultations and collaborationneeds to include Governments, industry representatives andsectoral management agencies, scientists and civil society• Fishery managers may know more about local circumstances• Some stakeholders may respond better to different ministryrepresentatives whom they have dealt with in past, egfisheries• At the staffing levels, continuity, longevity and consistency ofcommunications are key• Importance of indentifying, facilitating and involving local

Consolidated recommendations (1 of 2)• Encourage collaboration and effective communicationthrough bringing regional bodies for fisheries andconservation together on a regular basis• Promote high level commitment to collaboration as well asmandate e.g. legislative framework, for organisations tocollaborate for biodiversity conservation• Establish action oriented inter-ministerial committees toimprove collaboration• Review regularly institutional arrangements andmanagement measures including MPAs to driveimprovements in design

Consolidated recommendations (2)• Scale up MPA planning processes to national and regionallevels to enhance conservation benefits and flexibility• Make capacity development for sustainable fisheries, MPAmanagement and larger scale marine spatial planning amajor component of international assistance and nationaldevelopment aid packages• Use case studies to communicate mutual benefits of MPAsas well as other tools to relevant agencies and stakeholders• Encourage social contracts to allocate roles, responsibilities,and accountability and to clarify shared benefits betweenlocal communities, private sectors and governments