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Projeto de investigação
MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre
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“Bottom-up management approach to coastal marine protected areas in Portugal”
Publication . Ferreira, Ana; Seixas, Sónia; Marques, João Carlos
The classification and management of coastal marine protected areas is traditionally implemented without a strong public participation process in its early stage, resulting in conflicts. A bottom-up approach with public participation before defining regulations is an innovative, yet difficult process. The case study presented is a local experience of Avencas Biophysical Interest Zone in Cascais, Portugal. The objective of this paper is to evaluate a new approach, to assess the success of the management action applied in terms of the short-term response from users of the costal marine protected area.
Public participation assemblies were conducted to welcome input from the fishing community regarding the new regulation; visual census and interviews directed at different users, were used to assess the short-term effectiveness of the implemented management actions. A new regulation is underway and user management actions have been implemented: visitors' pathways through the rocky platforms and information spots at the entrance to the beach.
Positive results point to the success of this approach, as visitors either agreed or respected the various management actions implemented: 84% of them agree with information spots, and 76% agree with the pathways. Recreational fishers are now mostly located outside the protected area, though there are still some who choose to stay inside, which indicates the need to change some points in the regulation, to improve its compliance by the fishing community. The short-term evaluation methodology was effective in detecting changes in usage patterns from users when the bottom-up approach was applied.
Integrating local ecological knowledge and scientific surveys: a pathway to understanding benthic mesophotic ecosystems
Publication . Neto, Regina; Seixas, Sónia; Gomes, Pedro
Marine ecosystems face increasing anthropogenic pressures, highlighting the need for effective conservation strategies such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Knowledge gaps
are particularly evident in mesophotic ecosystems (MEs), which provide vital ecological functions but are difficult to study due to logistical and technological challenges. This
study explores the role of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) as a complementary tool to Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys for characterising MEs in Northern Portugal.
We conducted 59 interviews with fishers to gather information on species distribution, depth ranges, habitat associations, and conservation views. Simultaneously, 187 ROV
dives recorded species presence and habitat features. Fishers reported a high diversity of species, including several Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) indicators, some absent
from ROV observations, thus expanding biodiversity records for the region. Comparisons revealed both overlaps and discrepancies, emphasising the complementarity of LEK
and ROV methods. Fishers broadly recognised the ecological importance of corals and sponges and showed support for conservation measures, although opinions varied among
different fishing groups. Our findings demonstrate that combining LEK with scientific surveys improves biodiversity assessments, helps identify key conservation areas, and fosters
collaborative efforts to protect mesophotic ecosystems amidst increasing human impacts.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Número da atribuição
UID/MAR/04292/2013