Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Solomon Islands

- 87.6 %

SPACE TO RECOVER: MARINE MANAGEMENT

Marine managed and protected areas are key to maintaining Solomon Islands’ valuable marine resources. To effectively implement these areas, it is important to combine traditional marine management with national and international efforts.

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in the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), which is a global compilation of both terrestrial and marine protected areas produced by IUCN and UNEP-WCMC (Pro- tected Planet, 2016). For protected areas to be included in this database, they must align with one of six IUCN protected area management categories, which provide in- ternational standards for defining protected areas and encourage conservation planning according to their management aims. Only one of these categories is “no take”, and they are often placed at the core of a pro- tected area. However, holistic, sustainable marine management on a large scale is key to conserving the marine values. Recognizing the role that these areas play in allowing marine life to recover, Solomon Islands has committed to protecting and sustainably managing 10 per cent of its sea (see also chapter “Solomon Islands’ com- mitment to marine conservation”) by 2020, using Solomon Islands-specific categories of protection. While this is an ambitious goal, Solomon Islands has a rich tradition of marine management upon which to build. The country has many community marine

managed areas which practice traditional management methods. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources helps these communities develop community fisheries management plans, with a focus on the par- ticipation of customary rights holders. There are more than 80 MPAs in Solomon Islands, 50 of which are shown on the map. These include community conservation, marine conservation, marine protection and tabu (no-fishing) areas, many of which are

LMMAs. MPAs and LMMAs can improve human well-being by increasing human resilience to short and long-term threats (thus supporting objectives for commu- nity resilience under the National Climate Change Policy) and protecting ecosystems and vulnerable species from ridge to reef, thereby assisting Solomon Islands in meet- ing its commitments under the CBD.

zone, which is the area of greatest human use, from commercial and artisanal fishing to tourism and transport. The marine managed areas in this area contribute to sustainable local livelihoods.

Taking into account every type and cate- gory of protected area globally, only 3.5 per cent of the ocean is currently protect- ed, with only 1.6 per cent strictly or fully protected (see small map). Environmental organizations and scientists recommend that between 20 and 50 per cent of the ocean should be protected. The goal is not to preserve things as they are—even protected areas harbour only a tiny fraction of the biodiversity that once existed—but to allow life to recover. This is crucial, given the decline of global marine populations (see graphic). For this reason, the world wants to protect at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas by 2020, as formulated in an international CBD target (see also chapter “Solomon Islands’ commitment to marine conserva- tion”). Indeed, marine managed areas are steadily increasing. Marine managed areas are areas of the ocean that are managed for specific purposes, which can include protection of biodiversity or sustainable use of the resources. These areas are summarized

All the MPAs and LMMAs in Solomon Islands are found in the shallow coastal

Marine Protected Areas—Space to Recover ri rot t –

Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

The plants and an mals that c rre tly live in the “wilderness” of the ocea , and those we want to preserve in marine protected are s, are just a fra tion of what once thrived in the seas. To understand what we’ve lost, and what we might be able to recover, we need to know what used to be. XPLOITATION AND PROTECTED AREAS OK INTO THE PAST in the “wilderness” of the ocean, and those areas, are just a fraction of what once e’ve lost, and what we might be able to e. D PROTECTED AREAS Declining Populations* (Percentage Change) ive in the “wilderness” of the ocean, and those ed areas, are just a fraction of what once t we’ve lost, and what we might be able to be. D PROTECTED AREAS Declining Populations* (Percentage Change) tly live in the “wild rness” of the ocea , and those ected are s, are just a fraction of what once what we’ve lost, and what we might be able to d to be. ND PROTECTED AREAS Declining Populations* (Percentage Change) tly live in th wil er ess” of th o e n, a d thos t ted areas, are just a fracti n f hat on t we’ve lost, and wh t we ight able to d t . ROT C D A EAS Declining Po ulations* (Percentage C a e)

Marianas Trench Marine National Monument USA 2009

4

Strongly protected (No-take-zone) Partial No-take-zone Weakly protected

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument USA 2006

2

Extension USA 2016

11

Not yet implemented

- 89.4 % Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve Great Britain 2015 Paci—c Remote Islands Marine National Monument USA 2009, 2014 Phoenix Islands Protected Area Kiribati 2006 Rapa Nui Marine Park Chile 2015 5 3 7 10

E ven if we sum up every type and category of protect- ed area, only 3.5 percent of the ocean is currently protected. And only 1.6 percent is strictly or fully pro- tected, like the Ross Sea. Designated as a no-take zone in 2017, the sea is now the largest marine protected area in the world. For the next 35 years, all types of exploitation are prohibited in more than 70 percent of the area, while the rest may only be used for limited research purposes. Environmental organizations and scientists demand that between 20 and 50 percent of the ocean be designated as protected areas. The goal is not to preserve things as they are—even in protected areas we see only a tiny fraction of the biodiversity that once existed—but to allow life to recover. A thousand years ago, you could catch fish in many re- gions with nothing more than your bare hands and a net. Just 500 years ago, gray whales and right whales, whose meat was prized on the market, were a common sight in the North Sea. A few hundred years ago, there were still millions of sea turtles in the Caribbean—it is said that Co- lumbus’ men complained that they couldn’t sleep because of the racket made by the gigantic animals constantly col- liding with the ships’ hulls. In the 17th century, there were still 90 million green sea turtles. Some dubbed them soup while poses. d that ted as s they action life to ny re- a net. whose Sea turtles - 96.5 % Predatory sh (tuna, sail sh, sword sh) - 75.7 % f protect- currently fully pro- e zone in d area in ploitation ea, while purposes. mand that gnated as gs as they y fraction ow life to many re- nd a net. Sea turtles - 96.5 % Predatory sh (tuna, sail sh, sword sh) - 75.7 % ory of prot ct- n is currently y or fully pro- o-tak zone in ected area in f exploitation he area, while rch purposes. demand tha designated as hings as they tiny fraction allow life to h in many re- nds nd a net. Sea turtles - 96.5 % ry f protect- n is cu re tly ly or fu ly pr - -take zon in tect are in of ex loitation e area, w ile arc urposes. deman that design te s thi gs as they a tiny fraction o llow life to sh in m y re- s a et. Sea turtles - 96. % otect- rently y pro- one in rea in tation

Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park Chile 2015

9

Declining Populations * (Percentage Change)

8

Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Area New Zealand 2015

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Australia 1975

1

Declining Populations* (Percentage Change)

Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area South Africa 2009

6

- 87.6 %

Ross Sea Marine Protected Area Antarctica 2016

12

- 87.6 % - 87.6 %

- 96.5 %

- 87.6 %

- 87.6 %

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ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: LOTZE&WORM ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: LOTZE&WORM ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: LOTZE&WORM

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Reef sh ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: LOTZE&WORM * Based on historical sources. - 89.4 %

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Sea turtles

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ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: LOTZE&WORM

4.3

Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

All Marine Protected Areas

MPAs that are strongly protected

3.5

- 75.7 %

2.5

0.9 0.1

0.5 0.1

0.3 0.1

0.1 0.1

Percentage of ocean surface area protected

- 89.4 %

Predatory sh (tuna, sail sh, sword sh)

- 89.4 % - 8 .4 %

0.3

1.6

1.9

CC-BY-SAPETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN

- 89.4 %

- 75.7 % - 7 .7 %

10 15 5

Not just the populations were huge; the creatures themselves were also larger. At the start of the 20th cen- tury, fishermen pulled sturgeons more than three meters long from the Elbe River in Germany. In the same period, a manta ray weighing 2,200 kilograms was caught off the east coast of the USA. Today, though, there are hardly any big fish left. The reason is the fishing industry, because fish are caught before they have a chance to grow. Reef sh * Based on historical sources. Reef sh * Based on historical sources. Not just the populations wer huge; t creatures th mselv s were also larger. At the start of the 20th cen- tury, fis ermen pull d sturge ns more than thre meters Reef sh Predatory sh (tuna, sail sh, sword sh) * Based on historical sources. Not j st t e p pulatio s w e ug ; the creatures them elves were also larger. t the start of t e 2 t ce - tury, fish rmen pu le sturge ns more than thr e eters Reef sh Predatory sh (tuna, sail sh, sw rd sh) * Based on historical sources. It is an old lesson that we are slow to learn. 2,000 years ago, the Romans commercially fished 150 different species. Not just the populations were huge; the creatures themselves were also larger. At the start of the 20th cen- tury, fishermen pulled sturgeons more than three meters long from the Elbe River in Germany. In the same period, Not just the populations were huge; the creatures themselves were also larger. At the start of the 20th cen- tury, fishermen pulled sturgeons more than three meters

2 3

4

6 5 7

8 9

10 11 12

CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN

2 1

Global MPA (in millions of km )

CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN

CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN

0

CC-BY-SA PETRABOECKMANN.DE / OCEAN ATLAS 2017 | SOURCE: LUBCHENCO&GRORUD-COLVERT / MPATLAS

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS * Based on histor was the right one for whaling: as a coastal, slow-moving whale, they were easy to catch. They floated at the sur- face when killed and yielded a lot of valuable blubber that was then boiled into oil. People first began hunting th m in Asia. Up until 50 years ago, it was only fished region- ally. In the intervening years, though, the sea cucumber industry has spread across the whole ocean. They aren’t as cute as baby seals, so they also aren’t as well protected. MANAGING 67