Rights to manage and decision-making authority

If the group carrying out management of the site does not have a legal mandate or decision-making authority, it can impede the ability to carry out critical actions needed to be effective, especially enforcement of rules and regulations. Similarly, if there are multiple authorities for different management activities within the site, implementation may be complex. Equally, if a community is managing a site but does not have the authority to enforce state or national laws, they may need to develop arrangements with the relevant agencies to stop illegal activities within the site. 

Understanding who has rights and mandates to manage will identify the limits to MPA managers authority and needs for collaboration. Joint operating agreements between entities are a useful mechanism to clarify roles and protocols for addressing common issues. 

Political Will and Support for an MPA

One of the factors that can be key to management effectiveness and often very challenging for managers to influence is political will to support MPAs and MPA networks. Political will, and support for the MPA can influence everything from budgets and staffing to policies and legal authorities needed to manage the site. Political will and support can also change over time as administrations change or political pressures sway opinions. Understanding the political landscape is essential if managers are to identify barriers or potential barriers to management effectiveness. For example, if there is little government support for an MPA that is largely dependent on government funding, it would be wise to explore more diverse sources of funding. It may also be important to explore ways to build political support through strategic communications or innovative approaches that increase the likelihood of gaining further resources for an MPA. Inviting policy makers and government representatives to visit the site or take part in management activities such as monitoring can help to generate support, as well as good communication of the successes of the site.

MPAs within nested governance

All MPAs lie within a broader framework of management that occurs outside of the MPA boundaries. This includes management of watersheds, fisheries, coastal zones, and MPA networks. Understanding the broader policy and management framework will help identify where they can help to achieve MPA objectives by addressing external threats to the site or implementing complementary activities. Alternatively, MPAs can help to achieve the objectives of broader management schemes.  For example: 

• Watershed management actions that reduce land-based sources of pollution can help MPAs achieve conservation or fisheries objectives that otherwise may have been impossible if not addressed. 

• MPAs can also play a key role in fishery management through the protection of nursery habitat for target species. It can also be important to assess and consider how your MPA can support management of migratory species that move outside the boundaries such as marine mammals. 

Activities taking place outside the boundaries of the MPA and beyond the control of its management authority can be a major obstacle to achieving the objectives of the MPA if there are no mechanisms in place to address these or means of communicating with the relevant external agencies. 

Integrated Governance

A combination of governance approaches (i.e., top-down, bottom-up, and market-based) can support the most effective and equitable form of governance. 

• Top-down approaches are focused on enforcing rules and regulations aimed at reducing threats to the site values. 

• Bottom-up approaches focus on stakeholder engagement in management decision-making and implementation to encourage stewardship actions. 

• Market-based approaches include using economic incentives to promote certain behaviors such as the use of sustainable livelihoods or user access rights. 

The combination will differ for each MPA and depend on various factors including political will, community involvement, financial status, legislation, and the capacity for enforcement (UN Environment, 2019).