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Marine protected areas need accountability not wasted dollars

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-22, 00:42 authored by Graham EdgarGraham Edgar
In this era of fiscal constraint following the global financial crisis, marine protected areas (MPAs) occupy a remarkable position in the economic landscape. Few government authorities seem concerned about the prevalence of white elephants – illusionary MPAs that carry a financial cost. Whereas no government minister would consider developing a health system based solely on number of hospital beds (irrespective of whether all hospitals are concentrated within a single city, or occupants of beds have access to medical staff, or patients are living or dying), MPAs are largely assessed on a single numerical target (total area). Inconsistent self-identification adds an extra level of opaqueness. The net consequence is an unaccountable and under-performing system, an outcome that is both tragic and economically wasteful.

Funding

Australian Research Council

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Department of Parks and Wildlife (Western Australia)

Department of Primary Industries NSW

Parks Victoria

Smithsonian Institution

History

Publication title

Aquatic Conservation

Volume

27

Pagination

4-9

ISSN

1099-0755

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Rehabilitation or conservation of marine environments

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