Gulf of Maine Projects1997 Marine Protected Areas ProjectAn Evaluation of the Establishment Processes for Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine: Understanding the Role of Community Involvement and Public Participation
Executive SummaryThe process by which a marine protected area (MPA) is established often plays an important role in nominating and designating a site. This report examines the importance of community involvement and public participation in establishing MPAs in the Gulf of Maine. It argues that direct involvement by user groups and other interested parties in the decision-making process can increase the level of understanding and support for marine protection. Participation at the beginning of a project enables local communities to acknowledge the benefits of a protected area, take credit for the designation, and enforce the regulations they establish. Such an approach also allows decision makers to more easily incorporate local ecological knowledge into the planning phases which can facilitate the protection and management of marine resources. For these reasons, a "bottom-up" approach that addresses the needs of the surrounding community can be viewed as a desirable model to adopt when establishing MPAs. In this report, existing MPA establishment processes in the Gulf of Maine are first evaluated with regard to their level of community involvement and public participation. Although each process is different, three basic phases are identified and described: 1) Site Identification, 2) Evaluation/Selection, and 3) Designation. Several case studies are then presented to outline the use of public participation and community involvement in establishment processes and understand which aspects of this approach are most helpful in designating future MPAs. Based on lessons learned from these examples and others described throughout the report, the following guidelines are suggested to most effectively incorporate participation and involvement into the MPA establishment process:
Issues specific to establishing MPAs in the Gulf of Maine are also addressed. In considering a network of sites, it is determined that: a) MPA initiatives must be based on existing programs and processes; b) some level of ecosystem analysis and review is necessary when taking an ecosystem approach to MPA establishment; and c) because marine resources and habitats in the Gulf of Maine are often transboundary and of regional significance, the level of participation may be broader than in instances where resources are more localized. That is, the scope of community involvement and level of interest may extend well beyond a local area. A final recommendation pertains to nominated sites that are reviewed by an organization with Gulf of Maine or regional representation. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC) (or some expanded form of it) is suggested as the most likely body to assume such a role. While the Council could not infringe upon the authority of existing jurisdictions and establishment processes, its input would lift the review of candidate MPAs to an ecosystem level, allowing regional concerns to be addressed. The GOMC would not want to delay establishment processes with lengthy reviews, but could provide a research and information component that articulates an important ecosystem viewpoint. Through this scenario, locally driven, "bottom-up" approaches to marine protection could be effectively tied into a broader planning framework that allows for ecosystem analysis and review. Locally driven MPA projects could be evaluated for their significance to the Gulf of Maine in addition to their specific region. In this way, an ecosystem approach to the establishment of MPAs can be achieved without altering existing laws and programs. Involving a body such as the Council also broadens the concept of community by enabling those with interests outside a local area to become involved in designating specific sites. By directly incorporating those relying most on marine resources into the decision-making process, a coherent network of MPAs can be effectively established in the Gulf of Maine. The appendix of this report includes a roster of candidate MPAs in the Gulf of Maine. The list is not exhaustive but includes the most significant sites considered in recent years. The MPAs described have varied levels of support and are at different stages in the establishment process. Some sites have been nominated through official government channels, while other nominations are the result of informal discussions and may never reach the designation stage. The roster provides insight into where in the Gulf of Maine future MPA initiatives may take place.
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