Publication details
Sri Lankan Marine Protected Areas demonstrate low levels of protection and establishment efficiency
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Are Sri Lankan Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) simply “paper parks”? As little hard biological survey data is available to assess the efficacy of these reserves, we have attempted to address this question using an approach which considers the harmful activities impacting sites, as well as their planning and management. Our findings, based on thorough review and personal knowledge, suggest that Sri Lankan MPA implementation makes successful MPAs unlikely. Harmful fishing, anchoring, and non-extractive activities within the areas, and spill over of pollutants from external sources, all occur with their magnitude varying between different MPA types. Lack of administrative transparency, communication, awareness, insufficient funding and staffing also seriously jeopardize MPA efficacy. Levels of collaboration and partnership with surrounding human communities are mostly undocumented, with social objectives and maintenance of human well-being not being considered in management plans. Because only areas reaching a certain standard of good practice can protect biodiversity and accrue its benefits, we are concerned that Sri Lankan MPAs will not necessarily achieve these goals. Ensuring their success will ultimately require better legislative and ministerial support, involvement of local human communities and promotion of sustainable financing and alternative livelihoods for those dependent on the MPA resources. |