Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Tonga

CONCLUSION

Tonga’s vast ocean supports a myriad of marine values. To successfully conserve and manage these values, the island nation is committed to holistic planning and effective management of its ocean.

Through valuing, planning and managing the values and benefits of its coastal and marine systems, Tonga can achieve this. Nevertheless, the experi- ence with MSP shows that only a truly participatory and inclusive process can generate nationwide ownership across sectors. Stakeholders across Tonga are working together to secure a healthy, productive, resilient and biodiverse ocean for all. We thank everyone who participated in meetings regarding this atlas and who, through their in- volvement, contributed input, guidance, data and/ or information to this atlas and identified its utility to policy and decision-making (see list of data providers listed in the References).

In particular, we would like to thank the Tonga Department of Environment of the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment, the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, the Tonga Bureau of Statistics and other relevant ministries for providing data and support to the project. We are grateful for the contributions of text and graphical elements from the Ocean Atlas 2017 of the Heinrich Böll Foundation to this atlas. We also thank the members of the MACBIO team for their support: Riibeta Abeta, Jasha Dehm, Marian Gauna, Jimaima Le Grand, Jan Steffen,

Jonah Sullivan, Vatu Molisa, Lysa Wini, Naushad Yakub; as well as the GRID-Arendal team: Kaja Lønne Fjærtoft, Georgios Fylakis, Elsa Lindeval, Petter Sevaldsen and Janet Fernandez Skaalvik. While the atlas provides the best data currently publicly available, the information about Tonga’s waters is constantly increasing. In this way, the atlas is an open invitation to use, modify, com- bine and update the maps and underlying data. The e-copy and interactive version of the Tonga Marine Atlas are available here: http://macbio- pacific.info/marine-atlas

Timeline of the Tonga Marine Spatial Planning process

Collation of over 140 spatial data sets, including on environmental and biological uses and risk variables, which were then assessed and prepared for use in MSP. 2015–2017

2016 Analysis of 91 instruments to assess the legal basis for MSP in Tonga completed.

2019 Prepare draft map (Ocean Plan) of candidate ocean zones. Initiate second round of national consultations in draft map.

2020 Finalise Ocean Plan and enact within law. Conduct national consultations to inform everyone of the new Ocean Plan.

2015 Cabinet decides to

2017 Typology of ocean management areas for Tonga defined. Tonga’s United Nations Ocean Conference Voluntary Commitments detail an MSP, including a network of 30 per cent MPAs by 2020 (#OceanAction 21256 and 21468). Report defining 38 biophysically SUMAs of Tonga launched by the Deputy Prime Minister.

2018 Report on the 25 marine bioregions that describe all of Tonga’s marine environment published. Draft communication materials prepared for national consultations. Placement guidelines for ocean management areas drafted. Formal national consultations for Tonga’s MSP take place.

initiate cross-sectoral, national MSP for Tonga.

The Ocean 7 (Tonga’s MSP Technical Working Group) has its first meeting and determines its terms of reference, the vision and objectives for Tonga’s MSP and a workplan extending to 2020.

National marine ecosystem service valuation report completed.

MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR TONGA • MARINE ATLAS

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