Ecosystem-Based Management for More Effective and Equitable Marine Protected Areas
A Case Study on the Faial-Pico Channel Marine Protected Area, Azores
This chapter documents the application of EBM in the Faial-Pico Channel, a 240 km2 MPA in the Azores (Portugal), a case study in the AQUACROSS project. The authors applied EBM to see whether it can protect biodiversity whilst meeting diverse stakeholder and policy goals. This chapter documents the steps of Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM): identifying integrative policy and stakeholder objectives, understanding the social-ecological system, scenario development, and identification and evaluation of EBM measures and policies. The authors find that stakeholder co-creation and collaboration is a key strength of EBM and should be strengthened in the Faial-Pico Channel. Local stakeholders support effective and equitable EBM of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by clearly identifying challenges and priorities, co-creating solutions, providing low-cost knowledge and expertise, and through ongoing monitoring, enforcement, and evaluation of the impact of management.Read more
