Assessing the management effectiveness of three sites in the Maldives : stakeholder survey results
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Date
2022-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Joint Nature Conversation Committee
ޖޮއިންޓް ނޭޗަރ ކޮންވާޝަން ކޮމިޓީ
ޖޮއިންޓް ނޭޗަރ ކޮންވާޝަން ކޮމިޓީ
Abstract
Description
The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), a UK Government-led programme, was invited to collaborate with the Government of the Maldives to explore opportunities to support effective management of their marine environment. An aim of the project was to complete Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) assessments to evaluate the management effectiveness of three sites with differing designations and management strategies. These sites were Hanifaru Area MPA - an UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Angsana Velavaru - a house reef currently being considered as an Other Effective Area-based Measurement (OECM), and Kudahuvadhoo Kanduolhi - a protected grouper spawning site.
Stakeholder engagement is essential to the PAME assessment process, ensuring that the assessments reflect a wide range of views on management and provide impartial results. In order to capture information required from stakeholders to complete the PAME assessments, four surveys were developed, tailored to different stakeholder groups: fisheries and tourism personnel, NGOs and researchers, MPA managers and marine enforcers, and local government. Surveys were designed online using SmartSurvey. Potential survey respondents were contacted directly by email, and the Maldives Government advertised surveys on social media. There were 15 survey responses in total: eight from fisheries and tourism personnel, one from an MPA manager/enforcer, and six from NGOs/researchers. No responses were received from local government. Several recommendations were noted to improve participation by stakeholders in any future stakeholder surveys, such as by advertising the surveys more widely, and extending the time the survey was live for. Twelve respondents completed the survey for Hanifaru Area MPA. The majority of respondents believed that more could be done to address threats within the MPA, particularly as a result of pressure from tourism. Survey respondents were aware of rules and regulations in place that control access to or activities within the Hanifaru Area MPA, but most respondents believed that these were difficult to enforce, and that more people were needed to manage the MPA. Most respondents also expressed that they were not involved in making decisions related to the site. Five respondents, all associated with tourism, believed that the MPA had benefited their livelihoods, and it was highlighted that many resorts support restrictions in Hanifaru Area MPA. Most of the five respondents that completed the survey for Angsana Velavaru House Reef, believed that threats to the site were not being properly addressed. Respondents were generally aware that fishing was prohibited. However, most respondents believed that more people were needed to manage the site, and that managers could not enforce site legislation when needed due to lack of authority. Stakeholders from the different sectors differed in their opinions on their level of involvement in making decisions related to the site. The tourism respondents believed that Angsana Velavaru had benefited the livelihoods of local communities, including through job creation.
One respondent completed the survey for Kudahuvadhoo Kanduolhi. The response was considered in the PAME assessments, however due to the sample size, results are not provided in this report.
Keywords
Hanifaru Area, Angsana Velavaru, Kudahuvadhoo Kanduolhi, SmartSurvey, PAME assessments
Citation
Ocean Country Partnership Programme [OCPP]. (2022). Assessing the management effectiveness of three sites in the Maldives: Stakeholder survey results. Joint Nature Conversation Committee