A Matter of Balance
How do you balance environmental conservation and food supply and income from fishing? A network of marine protected areas in Fiji designated in 2005 was re-looked at after locals objected to some of the closings. Both sides worked together on the project of redesigning the areas.
Dr. Stacy Jupiter, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Fiji says, “This participatory approach gives local people more ownership over the management process, which results in a higher likelihood of compliance with fishing bans inside the closures.”
Southern California now has its own set of marine protected areas as well. Read more about the process here.
Photo: Josh Friedman
