The valuation of marine reserves: Linking ecological, economic, social, and political aspects
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Valuing nature is an ongoing interdisciplinary debate between ecologists and socio-economists, centred on the trade-offs between long-term marine conservation outcomes and short-term economic returns. By using Marine Protected Areas (MPA) as an analytical framework, researchers can address these challenges and reach conclusions that satisfy both ecological and economic perspectives. This research serves as a good case study, employing an ecology-based monetary valuation method to link ecological empirical evidence with economic values, demonstrating the monetary contribution of Marine Reserves (MR) to communities and beyond. The spillover and recruitment effects of MR are estimated to provide a significant boost to the commercial fishery, with an annual catch landing value of NZ$ 1.49 million. The average gross output, including contributions from the MR's recruitment effect, amounts to NZ$4.89 million, with value added (GDP) of NZ$1.86 million, indirectly supporting 16 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). The direct value contributed to snapper recreational fishing is NZ$3.21 million per annum, while indirect value from fishing equipment spending is NZ$3.30 million per annum. This research represents the first estimation of the monetary value of spillover and recruitment effects from a well-established, no-take MPA (MR), illustrating the contribution of marine conservation to society.
Source: Societal Impacts
Author: Zoe Qu
Institution: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $300
OpenAlex ID: W4404338476