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52 / THE OCEAN : BIODIVERSITY WHICH WE MUST PROTECT

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MPAs

AND PROHIBITED AREAS

Other initiatives have been shown to be effective. MPAs and prohi-
bited areas, for instance. Three of them were represented during the
Monaco Ocean Week conference on 11 April 2018: the Côte Bleue
marine park, created in 1982, the Cap Roux marine park, created
in 2004, and the Cap d’Agde marine park, which is more recent.
Their directors emphasise that they have seen excellent results very
quickly. Each of them have noted that in a few years, there were
larger fish in greater numbers, and that biomass was increasing.
However this success requires an active partnership between va-
rious players, notably fishers, who are often responsible for monito-
ring the prohibited areas against illegal fishing.

Co-management within the MPAs and prohibited areas has been a
key factor in their success. Improved governance is a vital element
to preserve small-scale fishing and resources which belong to eve-
ryone.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN

IMPROVED GOVERNANCE Women are not a common sight in the fishing

sector, and yet many of them work in it. They are
This objective was promoted by the innovative project Oz Miñarzos,
a reserve in Galicia, in the north of Spain. Due to inefficient gover- involved in collection, they might be on board or
nance, a lack of an international legal framework and an increase involved in aquaculture, the sale of fish, product
in the number of rules which are imposed but inapplicable, Spani-
sh artisanal fishers decided to create a marine reserve which they processing or marketing. They innovate, educate
co-manage jointly with the State, scientists and NGOs. In 16 years, or act behind the scenes in banks, administration,
it has been expanded on their request from 2,000 to 100,000 ha,
and recommends collective and transparent governance principles. auctions...
“The current so-called top-down model encourages unfair compe-
tition and bad practices”, explains Antonio Garcia Allut, from the
Lonxanet Foundation. “To preserve the shared marine resources “Their contribution is vital and positive, particularly
which the fishers rely on, we must experiment and develop new me- in artisanal fishing, where they often do not
thods of organisation, new rules and new collaborations between
countries”. receive a salary, have no social benefits and are
never featured in the statistics. They are invisible”
Mediterranean states must urgently develop a regional action plan
for small-scale coastal fishing. Several actions are needed: impro- laments Marja Bekendam, spokeswoman for
ving knowledge, guaranteeing sustainable, profitable and socially AKTEA, the European network for women in
responsible artisanal fishing, banning destructive practices, encou-
raging bottom-up initiatives and co-management and organising fishing.
sustainable fishing areas and MPAs.
Thanks to its action, a legal framework has been
“All is not lost”, underlines Maria Jose Cornax, director of policies
and advocacy at Oceana Europe. “But general interests must be progressively put in place for the fisherman’s wife,
prioritised ahead of private interests”.
which still needs to be transposed from European
law to each country’s law.