Research advances and gaps in marine planning: towards a global database in systematic conservation planning

Over the last three decades, hundreds of systematic conservation planning (SCP) studies were produced, yet we have no reliable way of finding information on SCP methods, trends, and progress. In particular, the number of studies added to the marine SCP literature has increased exponentially over the past 10 years (Figure 1). This accelerating output of … Continue reading Research advances and gaps in marine planning: towards a global database in systematic conservation planning

Research reconnaissance in the Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar

In the far southern coast of Myanmar (formally Burma) lies a group of around 800 tropical islands, collectively called the Myeik Archipelago. This is an area of ecological and social significance to Myanmar, and a proposed marine protected area (MPA) site. I was lucky enough to visit the archipelago last week with my supervisor Dr. Amy … Continue reading Research reconnaissance in the Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar

Designing marine reserve networks with stakeholders

Integrating stakeholder preferences into science-driven approaches to designing marine reserve networks can help to create designs that are scientifically sound, while taking into account local knowledge and preferences. Early engagement and input from stakeholders can facilitate the successful implementation of new marine reserves and maximise compliance. Worldwide, overfishing and climate change threaten marine biodiversity and … Continue reading Designing marine reserve networks with stakeholders

NEW PAPER: Restricted grouper reproductive migrations support community-based management

Small, targeted community-managed reserves can balance conservation and fisheries benefits.Conservation commonly requires trade-offs between social and ecological goals. For tropical small-scale fisheries, social considerations often require community-based management – carried out at very small spatial scales. This is of particular concern for large coral reef fishes, such as many species of grouper, which migrate to aggregations to … Continue reading NEW PAPER: Restricted grouper reproductive migrations support community-based management

New Paper: Influence of Governance Context on the Management Performance of Marine Protected Area Networks

Vera, Bob, and colleagues from James Cook University and University of the Philippines recently published a paper in Coastal Management. This study, which was a chapter of Vera’s PhD, looked at various contextual factors that influence management of marine protected area (MPA) networks in the Philippines. By drawing on interactive governance theory, they evaluated how … Continue reading New Paper: Influence of Governance Context on the Management Performance of Marine Protected Area Networks

The Barrier Reef is not listed as in danger, but the threats remain

UNESCO and IUCN have just released a draft decision for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The decision proposes not to list the GBR “In danger” as many expected.  However, given the many threats that still face the GBR, this article suggests several aspects of the decision that need to be stronger to maintain the World Heritage values. Jon Day from the ARC Centre for Coral … Continue reading The Barrier Reef is not listed as in danger, but the threats remain

ARC Centre of Excellence’s Virginia Chadwick Award

Georgina Gurney recently received a Virginia Chadwick Award for her paper on how marine protected areas (MPAs) affect human wellbeing, which is published in Global Environmental Change. The Virginia Chadwick Awards are awarded each year to five ARC Centre of Excellence graduate students for the most outstanding publications in peer-reviewed international journals. Georgina’s paper examined … Continue reading ARC Centre of Excellence’s Virginia Chadwick Award

NEW PAPER: Spatial mismatch between marine protected areas and dugongs in New Caledonia

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a powerful tool for conserving marine biodiversity when designed using ecological information and conservation goals and targets. Dugongs (Dugong dugon) were not an explicit target in the design of the network of MPAs in the lagoons of New Caledonia, despite being one of the region’s World Heritage values. Christophe Cleguer’s … Continue reading NEW PAPER: Spatial mismatch between marine protected areas and dugongs in New Caledonia