The First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas

context, and non-biological considerations, such as local laws, culture, resources, and
knowledge as well as the availability of technology (e.g., gear modifications to mitigate
bycatch). One might start with a conventional approach, such as the U.S. Marine
Mammal Protection Act, but then identify problem areas or hotspots and provide an
additional layer of protection within protected areas or networks. For example, a location
that represents an important foraging refuge during years of poor ocean productivity
might be protected in order minimize the risk of animals (or species) and threats
becoming spatially and temporally concentrated.
In conclusion, conventional management and MMPAs are complementary tools, with
similar information needs, problems, and pitfalls. It is important to share ideas,
experiences, and approaches whenever possible to help ensure that the most appropriate
set of management tools is identified based on the specific circumstances, including
species, regulatory structures, social context, and other factors. In some cases, MMPAs
can focus attention on certain species or problem areas when conventional management
approaches are not adequate. However, the use of protected areas for marine mammals
should be coordinated within broader multi-species MPA processes in order to avoid a
confusing mosaic of regulations. For all MPAs, it is important to be explicit about what
species are being protected from what threats, and to continue monitoring effectiveness.
Adaptive management
Tundi Agardy
When considering the topic of adaptive management, a central question becomes “How
do MPAs and MPA Networks allow us to practice adaptive management to make
conservation more effective?” In attempting to answer this question, I’ll begin by stating
my own perspective, that Adaptive Management is not at all the same thing as amended
management. That is, marine management that fails and thus must be amended or
revised does not adaptive management make: it makes failed management, from which
management agencies must try and recover, without strategy and without the benefit of
proactive adaptive management mechanisms. Rather, I consider Adaptive Management
in the sense envisioned by Carl Walters: experimental design to test management is built
into the management planning for the MPA or marine protected area network, right
from the start.
In order to conduct adaptive management in this sense of the term, one must have:
• Clear, measurable objectives.
• Adequate resources for monitoring, research, and analysis.
• Formal or informal decision rules about what to do if benchmarks are not met.
• A management body that is capable of, and amenable to, changing the
management regime.
<strong>The</strong> scale of adaptive management will vary according to the goals of the marine
protected area or MPA network. <strong>The</strong>se might include:
• Conserve or restore population or species.
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