Marine Protected Areas

Creating and Managing Marine

Protected Areas in the
Philippines
Creating and Managing Marine Protected Areas in the
Philippines
Coastal marine habitats are being exploited beyond their capacity to recover as
overfishing and destruction of coral reef, mangrove, sea grass, and estuarine habitats
continue. In the Philippines, reducing fishing pressure and habitat destruction often
means providing alternative sources of income.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) such as reserves, sanctuaries, and parks can
achieve protection of particular, well-defined areas and critical habitats. When
properly designed and well managed, a marine reserve can meet various marine and
coastal conservation needs by preserving habitat and important species and protecting
specific areas.
Basic criteria for selection of marine protected area sites may
include:

• Relative naturalness: Areas still in good condition;

• Representativeness: Areas that are unique, include important ecological
functions and/or species;
• Biodiversity: Areas with high diversity of species/ecosystems;
• Vulnerability: Areas with rich resources/biodiversity that are relatively
vulnerable to disturbance or destruction;
• Fisheries value: Areas that are strategic to enhance fisheries;
• Tourism value: Areas that could, if protected, enhance appropriate
recreational uses and tourism revenues;
• Social acceptance: Acceptability of all stakeholders; and
• Practicality of management: Relative ease of management.
Marine protected area (MPA) is a broad term for sites whose boundaries
have been established in order to provide some level of management with
the primary intent of protecting the site’s natural resources. There are
different classifications for MPAs with some used inconsistently and
interchangeably, such as parks, reserves, refuges, and sanctuaries.
Confusion can arise further because MPAs also can be established at
different levels of government, such as national and local.
 Sanctuary: An MPA where all extractive practices, such as fishing, shell
collection, seaweed gleaning, and collecting of anything else is
prohibited. It also allows for control of other human activities, including
access, in order to protect the ecosystem within the specific site.
 Reserve: An MPA where strict sanctuary conditions are not mandated for
the entire area yet there is still a desire to control access and activities,
such as boating, mooring, and various fishing techniques. It allows for
zones that include a sanctuary area.
 Marine Park: An MPA where multiple uses are encouraged that
emphasize education, recreation, and preservation; usually implemented
by zonation schemes that can include a sanctuary are
Planning and Establishing a Marine Protected Area

Phase 1: Issue Identification and Baseline Assessment

1. Recognition of a need and program preparation
2. Integration with the community and assessment issues

A. Community organization and mobilization

B. Conduct of baseline studies