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Sustainable financing of a national Marine Protected Area network in Fiji

Lookup NU author(s): Jonathan Hills, Professor Selina Stead

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Abstract

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Marine Protected Areas (MPA) are mostly studied from an environmental context. A review of available information identified a lack of knowledge in sustainable mechanisms to finance MPA networks. At the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2017, Fiji reaffirmed its voluntary commitment to make 30% of its inshore and offshore marine area MPAs by 2020 under Sustainable Development Goal 14. The work presented here uses empirical data to explore potential benefits from selected community-based MPAs to recipient local stakeholders. A Willingness to Pay (WTP) and Willingness to Contribute Time (WtCT) method was used to explore the extent to which bottom-up governance systems represent a potential financing mechanism of a MPA network. Results of 115 interviews concluded that proximity to a fishing market, dependence on marine resources, food security, income and international commitments were significant variables influencing stakeholder's WTP and WtCT to manage a MPA. We argue that there is a discrepancy between WtCT and WTP driven by income constraints. Thus, by using WTP and WtCT to support financing of a MPA network, a Provincial Trust Fund (PTF) could promote an equitable and benefits-based contribution. Equally important, a PTF has a polycentric and decentralized governance model, which endorses sustainable management of traditional fishing communities. The conclusions provide insight into a bottom-up approach for long-term financial sustainability of Fiji's national MPA commitments.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ison S, Hills J, Morris C, Stead SM

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Ocean and Coastal Management

Year: 2018

Volume: 163

Pages: 352-363

Print publication date: 01/09/2018

Online publication date: 02/08/2018

Acceptance date: 12/07/2018

ISSN (print): 0964-5691

ISSN (electronic): 1873-524X

Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.07.011

DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.07.011


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