Once the reserves are created, facilitators will work with local government to officially recognize the reserves. After paperwork is finalized, the reserves will need to be monitored and surveilled to avoid illegal fishing, users will need to gather ecological data over time to track progress, and the facilitators need to help implement other viable economic strategies and ensure their success. If feasible, reserves serving as a network should be implemented at relatively the same time to contribute to the success of the network.
In this first phase, facilitators of no-take marine reserves should aim to establish trusted relationships with the local communities and resources users that would likely be impacted from the implementation of a marine reserve. This entails the facilitator assessing the social, financial, and leadership structures to determine what the community needs to motivate creating a reserve. Concurrently, facilitators should gather any necessary baseline data to better populate tools that will help to create the reserve.
Decision Tree
Decision Tree
Governance Component
Governance addresses the rules, regulations, institutions, and power relationships among actors involved in the process of creating a no-take marine reserve.
Governance is the process by which laws, systems, and institutions surrounding no-take marine reserves are developed and enforced to attain marine resource management across all scales of government, organizations, and users. It can take many forms and is dependent on the context of the area as well as incentive mechanism to govern the resources. Typology of governance approaches include:
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Management primarily by the government
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Management by government with significant decentralization and/or influences from private organizations
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Management primarily by local communities under collective management arrangements
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Management primarily by the private sector and/or NGOs granted with property/management rights
Acknowledging the need to understand the local and large-scale social, legal, political, and governing context of an area or region is key in the development of any governance approach. This process relies on effectively, inclusively and equitably addressing many key players and stakeholders. The involvement of relevant groups directly linked to the resources facilitates the formation of a core group that can lead the development of an appropriate governance approach.
