Propuesta Área Marina de Manejo, Los Pargos
Development of multi-use MPAs
Two multi-use MPAs have been developed between researchers, fishers, and the Ministry of the Environment in the district of Bejuco to better manage the local snapper stock. These areas allow for the use of artisanal bottom longlines (the preferred fishing gear of the area’s snapper fishers) and hand lines but do not permit more unselective methods to be used including shrimp trawl nets. Costa Rica’s coastal MPAs began as marine extensions of previously established protected terrestrial areas, and Bejuco’s MPA are no different. Their original intent was to protect sea turtles from shrimp trawlers, but they have evolved into more complex spatio-temporal coastal resource management tools.
The area’s MPAs provide a legal framework that protects the interests of local fishers against the industrialized shrimp trawl fleet (shrimp trawlers target snappers in the area because it is not economically viable to fish for shrimp in Costa Rica). Costa Rica is developing climate change adaptation strategies funded by the Adaptation Fund. Inherent in these is the continued development of protected marine areas and the feasibility of expanding the two existing areas is being discussed.
Bejuco’s MPAs were established 10-15 years ago. Their original focus was rooted in sea turtle conservation and did not contemplate ecosystem management strategies. As the importance of the country's artisanal fisheries becomes more understood and appreciated, its MPA system has been forced to evolve, leaving ample opportunity for its improvement and expansion. For this reason, sea turtle data, fishery data, and local management plans are being combined to justify their expansion in Bejuco.
A multi-use MPA management plans that is enforceable and appropriately represents the community’s interests is just as important as the establishment of the MPA itself. Unfortunately, the Costa Rican system of coastal/marine governance is fragmented between two separate entities, the Environmental Ministry and the National Fisheries Institute. These separate establishments do not communicate effectively with one another. Furthermore, the Bejuco MPAs do not have their own management plans, but rather a few added paragraphs to the wildlife refuges’ plans. This has led to governance and enforcement gaps that have been exploited by illegal (gill net and shrimp trawl) fisheries.