The First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas

networks in the public eye, on the politician’s agenda, and on the map in a high-profile
way. But it is up to us to make that happen.
What’s taking us so long?
Brad Barr
Creating networks of MMPAs should be relatively straightforward, but surprisingly few
exist despite their obvious benefits. <strong>The</strong> animals to be protected are large and
charismatic, and considerable research has been carried out to identify their migratory
routes and critical habitat. We know where the MPAs are that include marine mammals
as key protected resources, and it does not take much effort or additional information to
be able to “connect the dots” between these sites. We know what the significant threats
to these animals are and how those threats might be more effectively addressed if the
research and management at sites known to be important to the populations were
integrated in some way. <strong>The</strong>re is a growing literature on how to network MPAs, and
although not all the answers are available, we know enough to get started. Also, we keep
saying that we are prepared, and know how, to learn from our successes and failures. So,
there is no good excuse for not making more progress toward the goal of MMPA
networking.
<strong>The</strong> purpose of this conference was to bring together a community of marine mammal
scientists and MPA managers and to get us talking to one another, sharing experiences
and ideas, and forging relationships needed to establish fully functioning networks. We
have many of the technological tools and a rapidly growing knowledge base that can help
us achieve that goal. Here are some suggestions to get us started:
• Start simple. Use the ICMMPA as a means of getting to know others who might
make good network partners, and learn how others are addressing management
challenges similar to yours.
• Be patient, but not too patient. Try to work with others who share responsibility
for managing shared resources and see what you can do better through
collaboration. <strong>The</strong>re is no need to rush into a formal agreement until both sides
understand and accept the terms, implications, and expectations involved.
• Spend some time learning the basics. <strong>The</strong>re are many good references and an
extensive array of functioning MPAs, and it is important to build on what others
have already learned.
• Look for opportunities to establish and strengthen network collaborations. Does
your management plan have a section dealing with networking actions you intend
to take? If not, it should.
• Seek advice from colleagues. Part of the reason for the ICMMPA is to begin to
build a “community of practice” for MMPA managers. Often, the answer to a
confounding management challenge is only a phone call or e-mail away.
• Invite colleagues to come and visit your MPA. Feedback provided by colleagues
in either informal visits or formal reviews of your management program can be
very useful. <strong>The</strong> “community of practice” should eventually develop a program
to provide expert review panels that can be drawn from when seeking external
reviews.
ICMMPA <strong>Conference</strong> Proceedings
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