Abstract

Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), a total of 644 designated marine protected areas (MPAs) exists. Some of the key elements related to management include assigned IUCN management categories, ownership types, existence of management plans and the presence or absence of no-take areas. The majority of WCR MPAs are designated as Habitat/Species Management Area and are predominantly state owned and governed. Unfortunately, a lack of reported information makes it difficult to accurately report on the existence of management plans and presence of no-take areas. Management of MPAs can be assessed via Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) evaluations, which assesses the extent to which MPAs are protecting values and achieving goals and objectives. The evaluation includes six elements which look at context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes. Based on the Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness (GD-PAME), approximately 75% of WCR MPAs have not had any such evaluations and for those that have undertaken PAME evaluations, the majority (57%) have only had a single evaluation. The Caribbean Protected Areas Gateway, a regional resource and information hub, has been building capacity and facilitating such assessments throughout 2018-2021. Said assessments have highlighted residential and commercial development, biological resource use and harm, human intrusions and disturbance and pollution as major threats to MPAs. The processes, outputs and outcomes elements appear to be the weakest areas of management, however, the development/updating of management and operational plans, enhancement of capacities, securing sustainable financing, the utilisation of scientific data and local/indigenous knowledge and employment of an ecosystem-based management approach could improve management.

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