Effective Management of Marine Parks
I think pretty much everyone reading this would agree that managing protected areas effectively is as important as establishing them in the first place. Otherwise, you end up with what are called “paper parks”.
The concept of “effective management” is reflected in various policies and agreements including the Malaysian National Policy on Biological Diversity (NPBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
But how to manage them effectively?
Implementing ‘Bottom-up’ Management Approach
One thing we are pretty sure of is that effective management needs the participation of local communities living in protected areas.
As noted in a recent discussion, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has long championed the cause of local communities being involved in decisions about protected areas – in our case, Marine Parks, obviously.
Why?
Because those decisions affect their livelihoods, culture, traditions…so they should at least be consulted, better yet involved.
There’s plenty of research to support the argument that protected areas that provide for local participation result in improved conservation outcomes…so, a no-brainer it would seem. Our work to support Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs) throughout Malaysia is testament to this and we now support seven CMCGs, who are conducting a whole range of conservation activities.
The Larapan Marine Conservation Group (LMCG) which is the CMCG based in Larapan doing coral rehabilitation work.
The CMCGs were originally established as groups called “Reef Care” under an initiative by the Department of Fisheries, launched in early 2020. Designed to give some responsibility (but no legal authority) for reef conservation to local communities on islands, we have supported the Reef Care programme since 2020, and expanded it to other areas outside of DoF Parks – hence the use of the more inclusive CMCGs.
The Current ‘Top-down’ Management Approach
While CMCGs provide the opportunity for local communities to participate in management (the so-called “bottom-up” approach to management), they don’t have any defined legal power or authority.
The power is vested in the Department of Fisheries (DoF), which is responsible for managing the Marine Parks in Peninsular Malaysia under the 1985 Fisheries Act; the two East Malaysian States of Sabah and Sarawak have their own enactments.
Focusing on Peninsular Malaysia, the Fisheries Act (the Act) empowers the DoF to establish and manage Marine Parks, most of which extend for 2 nautical miles from low water mark around islands.
Clauses 41 to 45 of the Act provide for the establishment and regulation of Marine Parks, the creation of a National Advisory Council, power and responsibility of the Director General of Fisheries, and offences and prohibitions. This is the “top-down” part of the equation.
It is worth noting that some parts of the Fisheries Act do suggest the potential for community participation in management decisions…but there’s no permanent institution that provides for this participation – no management body or committee that locals could be members of.
What About the Middle Folks?
But there is a gap – and it is something that we have talked about at length in the past. Simply put, it’s like this:
DoF is responsible for managing the Marine Parks – that is, the waters surrounding an island to a distance of 2 nautical miles.
State governments are responsible for land matters – under the Malaysian constitution
A map of Pulau Tioman. The MPA which is under the jurisdiction of DOF whereas the land (island) is under the jurisdiction of the State government
And that’s where it stands. One looks after the water, the other looks after land. And neither has strong jurisdiction over the other.
What Happens on the Island, Does Not Stay on the Island
But…it doesn’t take much observation to realise that whatever happens on the island affects the water – land clearing for development, sewage management, waste management, tourism operations.
And while the Act allows for the Advisory Council “to give technical advice to the State Government with respect to any development project on any island which is situated in a marine park or marine reserve area” (clause 41B (c)), there is no permanent or standing management or committee that both DoF and State could be members of that would help to address these issues. Such a body might provide space for a more holistic approach to managing the terrestrial and marine biodiversity that the islands are famous for.
Throw in a certain amount of “silo thinking” among some government agencies and the result is …imperfect communication and coordination.
So, perhaps it is time to consider a stronger role for State governments in marine resource management. After all, they “own” the land on the islands, and can control development that might impact the Marine Park. They also “own” 3 nautical miles of seabed (though they ceded that responsibility to DoF when the Marine Parks were established)…so they do have an interest.
The Protected Area Management Body – PAMB.
What we need is a new management body, one that allows a wider range of stakeholders to participate in management decision making. We call it simply the Protected Area Management Body – PAMB.
Essentially, a PAMB:
Is a Committee that will manage and island and its surrounding water, including impacts from island to ocean from tourism, land clearing, sewage pollution, etc.
Provides for membership for all relevant stakeholders including government agencies, local community, business, etc
Has a strong Terms of Reference and mission: the effective conservation of the biodiversity of an island and the surrounding ocean.
The PAMB will coordinates all aspects of the management of an island and its surrounding waters, regulating activities, controlling impacts and protecting biodiversity – both marine and terrestrial.
Creating Space for All Voices in Marine Conservation
Importantly, there is a seat at the table for all players – including local communities and businesses.
No-one gets left out; no-one loses their role; no-one gets their budgets cut. Instead, you have a permanent, formalised, legally recognised body that provides for integrated, holistic management, considering all threats to biodiversity and working together to address those threats. No silos.
This is the gist of our programme funded by Oceans 5, on which we are collaborating with WWF-Malaysia, to work with relevant Federal and State agencies to figure out how this is going to work.
We had some great conversations two weeks ago in Terengganu with the State Economic Planning Unit and learned a lot. There’s much more to come.
Watch this space!!
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