Criteria
Presentation on the state of protection of Belizean waters. Photo © Keith Jacobs
It is neither desirable nor practical to afford protection for everything in the sea. Humans have and will continue to exploit marine resources, although the continued use of these resources must be done in a sustainable manner. Managers are faced with the challenge of deciding how to prioritize protection actions, especially as they may have limited information upon which to base their decisions and because resources for monitoring and enforcement are often limited. It is important, therefore, for practitioners to be able to use the available knowledge to prioritize sites that should be monitored and protected, and to know which conservation strategies are most likely to be most effective and efficient.
Three types of factors should be considered when deciding among sites to monitor or protect: biological, physical, and socioeconomic.
- Biological Factors
- Physical Factors
- Socioeconomic Factors
Number and type of species aggregating
Trends in abundance at the site
Presence of vulnerable or endangered species
Connectivity and ocean currents
Dependence of local fishers on the site
Usage of the site by other activities including non-extractive activities
Proximity to existing protected areas
Available resources for monitoring and protection (feasibility)