The First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas

Summary of Findings:
Protected area designations should bring added conservation value beyond that derived
from other tools. Like any form of governmental intervention that impinges on human
activities, a clear welfare benefit should be attached to any proposal for a protected area
designation that involves management. If, on one hand, a marine mammal population is
already adequately protected by one or several conventional tools or mechanisms, there
may be little or no management justification for also establishing a protected area on its
behalf (although there may be other types of justification related, for example, to public
education and research). If, on the other hand, conventional tools alone are not
achieving the conservation objectives, there may be good justification for establishing a
protected area or network of protected areas, either as an alternative to other approaches
or as part of an integrated mix of approaches.
Summaries of Presentations:
Identification of conventional tools and the “added value” problem
Michael Simpkins
Conventional tools for managing or mitigating the impacts of human activities on marine
mammals are generally regulatory in nature. For example, direct harvest or other direct
taking of marine mammals can be regulated by imposing quotas as well as by regulating
the trade in products from such direct harvest or take. Incidental take (bycatch) of
marine mammals in fishing gear can be controlled by regulating fishing practices, e.g.,
through time-area closures and/or restrictions on fishing gear or fishing operations.
Disturbance or injury of marine mammals by noise from human activities can be
addressed through requirements placed on permits given to commercial operators that
produce noise (e.g., maximum source levels, ramp-up or shutdown protocols). Vessel
strikes can be reduced by regulating speed limits or changing the configuration of
shipping lanes so that they avoid areas of high marine mammal density. Finally, impacts
from pollution and marine debris can be addressed internationally through MARPOL
regulations and domestically through waste-management and pollution regulations.
MPAs essentially apply one or more conventional tools within an area that has been
specially designated. This spatially focused approach to the application of conventional
tools provides additional conservation value (i.e., “value added”) when threats are
geographically concentrated. Further, when multiple species or threats must be
addressed, MPAs can enhance coordination and regulatory coherence among the
conventional tools applied. Also, in many instances, stricter controls on human activities
can be applied within an MPA than would be possible through more general application
of conventional tools. Finally, the mere act of designating an area as needing special
protection – i.e., creating an MPA – can attract attention and funding to support
necessary conservation actions.
ICMMPA <strong>Conference</strong> Proceedings
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