Open Communications for the Ocean (OCTO) is a US-based NGO that connects thousands of ocean professionals to the knowledge and networks they need, empowering conservationists and resource managers to apply best practices worldwide. OCTO’s online communities share practical “how-to” knowledge in response to member questions.
Community-led Monitoring for MPAs
A member recently asked the OCTO community about models for community-led monitoring and enforcement adaptable for small island or coastal communities in regard to their marine protected areas (MPAs). Tourism and MPA conservation are often closely interwoven, directly and indirectly, for better or worse.
Responses from OCTO members follow:
Kealakekua Bay Community Action Plan
A community action plan that was developed in a highly touristed, but also very historically and culturally important, watershed in Hawaiʻi. The plan is necessarily inclusive of management of the terrestrial areas, as well as the corals and fisheries associated with the watershed. https://kealakekua.org/community-action-plan/
The State of Hawaiʻi Makai Watch Program
In Hawaiʻi, there are many small islands with populations ranging from several thousand to several million, alongside a relatively small government-run enforcement program. To address enforcement gaps, several community-led marine protected area (MPA) monitoring and surveillance (not enforcement) programs have been established, the most notable being Makai Watch. Similar to a neighborhood watch for the ocean, Makai Watch trains communities to monitor marine resources and provide local surveillance, while formal enforcement remains the responsibility of government officials. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/makaiwatch/
Indigenous Guardian Programs in British Columbia
In British Columbia, there are Indigenous Guardian programs that might offer a useful example for other communities. Coastal First Nation member Nations formed the Coastal Guardian Watchmen to collaboratively steward the North Pacific Coast by managing resources sustainably, enforcing laws, and implementing land and marine agreements. https://coastalfirstnations.ca/initiatives/coastal-guardian-watchmen/.
Magnetic Island (Yunbenun) Community Action Plan
The Magnetic Island Community Action Plan (MICAP) was developed through a review of existing plans, an online survey, one-on-one conversations, small group meetings and three workshops. The aim of the planning process was to work with island residents and stakeholders to identify a range of practical strategies to help maintain and restore the island’s marine and coastal world heritage values, and to contribute to Great Barrier Reef resilience. https://www.micda.com.au/community-action-plan
Cu Lao Cham Island in Vietnam
Dr. Chu Manh Trinh, a pioneering marine biologist on Cu Lao Cham, has produced an article and an 18-minute documentary about the site, a unique marine protected area off Vietnam’s central coast. Although Dr. Trinh is now retired from the Hoi An MPA Program, the program continues to be operated by others. https://oceanographicmagazine.com/features/exploring-cu-lao-cham-in-vietnam/. You can visit the Cham Islands Marine Protected Area at the website: culaochammpa.com.vn
SeaWatch App
The SeaWatch app is a community-led platform developed in Israel that allows sea users and coastal residents to report marine incidents such as illegal fishing, pollution, and other environmental harms. Reports are submitted in real-time through a simple mobile interface, with photos and precise locations, and are automatically forwarded to the appropriate enforcement or conservation authority.
SeaWatch functions as a centralized hub for marine issue reporting across the country and has become an important tool for involving local communities in protecting their coastal and marine environments. The model is adaptable and may be well suited for small island or coastal communities elsewhere.
Juan Fernández Archipelago and the Desventuradas Islands Monitoring Plan
Monitoring plan for the islands of the Juan Fernández Archipelago and the Desventuradas Islands. [Editor’s note: Please contact Sarah at sarah@octogroup.org to be forwarded a copy of this monitoring plan.]