Crossroads at sea : is it feasible to implement a multiple-use marine protected area at Cirkewwa?

Abstract

The designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) has traditionally been led by ecological considerations and has bestowed negligible weight to social and economic factors. This biologically-oriented MPA-designation process has been perceived as a segregating tool for anthropogenic activities, resulting in paper parks. Through the application of anthropo-geographical methodologies this research attempts at identifying the root evaluation criteria that determine the implementation of marine protection in Cirkewwa. These encompass 'Stakeholder Issues', 'Education and Awareness', 'Marine Life and Protection' as well as the 'Dynamics of Management'. In the current research the focus is aimed towards people's values, perceptions and uses within the marine environment'. The area in Cirkewwa covers around 180m2 and is contested by a number of users mainly fishermen and divers with the latter phenomenon expanding at an increasing rate in the last decades. This activity may be perceived as encroaching on a previously fished area. The current management structure of the area has led to an ever-increasing institutional complexity and jurisdictional gaps amongst various entities, resulting in ineffective management and surveillance and consequently leading to issues such as illegal fishing activities. These synergistic effects have exacerbated the level of conflict of the marine uses present in the area which necessitate rational and feasible management strategies. The study has looked into proposing tangible and workable strategies which may bring about a promising utilization of the area.