Introduction Material and Methods Conclusions Results

Stakeholder involvement in Marine Spatial Planning Lydia (1)

(1) Koehler ,

Leyla

(2) Knittweis ,

Joseph A.

(2) Borg

Faculty of Laws, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta

(2) Department

of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta

Introduction The Marine Area in the limits of Dwejra (Gozo, Maltese Islands) is a “multipurpose area” in which various activities take place, as is often the case for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) [1]. This site is one of the major tourist attractions of the Maltese Islands and has been attracting a growing number of visitors. In 2013 the site had 1,291,036 visitors [2]. The present study uses Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) principles to identify management measures which could be used to achieve an ecosystem-based approach for managing the Dwejra MPA. Existing datasets on the distribution of marine habitats and fishing activities at the MPA were analysed, and the perceptions and views of different stakeholder groups investigated. The approach aims to demonstrate the applicability of key MSP principles, such as stakeholder engagement, conflict identification, and effective space allocation, to improve the management of a Mediterranean “multipurpose” MPA.

Results

Material and Methods

Stakeholder views • Economic interest: indicated by all dive centres, boat trip operators, bus trip operators, as well as other small business owners • Cultural interest: stated by the majority of the authorities and boat owners, half the NGOs and bus trip operators, and several of the dive centres and small business owners • Recreational interest: indicated by the majority of small business owners, boat trip operators and dive centres • Environmental protection: MPA purpose according to the majority of stakeholders.

Data analysed

Fig. 1: Map of part of the western coast of Gozo (see insert for location in Maltese Islands), showing the border of the Dwejra Marine Protected Area and the distribution of marine benthic assemblages adapted from Borg et al. [3].

• Primary stakeholder opinions expressed during questionnaire survey conducted during the present study • Data on marine benthic species assemblages and benthic habitats available from [3] • Best practice approaches to MPA management based on literature review • Data on commercial fishing activities in and around the Dwejra MPA area based on information provided by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture

Conflicts identified Conflicts in the area are generated by strong seasonality in economic uses (Fig. 2) in relation to tourist influx; spatial overlap between activities, such as fishing, diving and boat trip operations; and anthropogenic impacts on the sensitive habitats present (Fig. 1), including littering, SCUBA diving in marine caves and anchoring on Posidonia oceanica. Table 1: Management approaches to complement those listed in the existing Action Plan [4].

Fig. 2: Months when the Marine Protected Area is most frequently used by the different stakeholder groups including fishing activities. Percentages and totals are based on total numbers of respondents.

Recruitment of a MPA Manager Setting up a management board and holding frequent stakeholder meetings Ongoing habitat monitoring studies and fish population assessments Recruitment of park rangers Introduction of camera surveillance Establishment of no-take zones Introduction of a visitor fee Instalment of an underwater trail for snorkelers Prohibition of unguided diving and training for dive guides Restriction of areas with sensitive habitats for inexperienced divers Closure of sensitive dive sites Installation of “Do Not Litter” signs

Management approaches Based on the results of the literature review and the stakeholder questionnaires, fifteen management measures were identified (Table 1) to complement those listed in the existing 2005 MEPA Action Plan [4]. The Professional Diving Schools Association of Malta (PDSA), have developed a new, alternative to the existing Dwejra Action Plan zonation scheme [4], which excludes all types of fishing within a wider Area (Zone A) compared to the scheme proposed in the 2005 MEPA Action Plan, where only commercial but not recreational fishing is excluded from the MPA Core zone (Fig. 3).

Proposed Management Measures

Fig. 3: Comparison between the zonation schemes indicated in the 2005 Malta Environment Planning Authority (MEPA) Action Plan [4], and proposed by the Professional Diving Schools Association (PDSA) of Malta during the interviews.

Increased regulation of recreational fishing activities Use of MSP to create an adaptive spatial management plan Extension of the MPA

Conclusions • Stakeholder involvement is crucial during the MPA planning process. • Recruitment of a MPA manager is an important prerequisite to successful MPA management [5]. • Recreational fishing in Malta requires better regulation. • Consideration of existing ecosystems is crucial for reaching the objectives of a MPA. As such the 2005 Dwejra MPA Action Plan [4] is more comprehensive than the alternative proposed by the PDSA since it includes measures to protect habitats and sensitive species.

Acknowledgements We are grateful to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (DFA) within the Ministry for Environment, Sustainable Development, and Climate Change (MESDC) for providing us with information on fishing activities. We thank all stakeholders who participated in this study.

References [1] Baude, J.L., Blouet, S., Dupuy De La Grandrive, R., Jourdan, E. and Piante, C. (2012), “Underwater Trails Handbook”, MedPAN North Project, WWF-France, 80 p. [2] Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) (2014), “Gozo Market Profile, January to December 2013”, Report by Malta Tourism Authority Research Unit, 31 p. [3] Borg, J.A., Dimech, M. and Schembri, P.J. (2004), “Report On A Survey Of The Marine Infralittoral Benthic Habitats In The Dwejra/Qawra Area (Gozo, Maltese Islands) Made In August – September 2004”, Survey Commissioned by Nature Trust and the Malta Environment Planning Authority, Ecoserv Ltd. Report, 30 p. [4] Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA 2005), “Qawra/Dwejra Heritage Park Action Plan-a project supported by LIFE Third Countries”, http://www.pa.org.mt/en/actionplan-details/qawradwejra-heritage-park-actionplan. [5] Gabrié, C., Lagabrielle, E., Bissery, C., Crochelet, E., Meola, B., Webster, C., Claudet, J., Chassanite, A., Marinesque, S., Robert, P., Goutx, M. and Quod, C. (2012), “The Status of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean Sea”, MedPAN and RAC/SPAReport, 256 p.