Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development-IREMADES, Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense, Bluefields, Nicaragua.
Environ Manage. 2011 Apr;47(4):617-29. doi: 10.1007/s00267-010-9587-y. Epub 2010 Dec 11.
Implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has always a step-zero, i.e., an initial phase when the idea is incepted, communicated and negotiated among stakeholders. What happens during this phase is likely to have an impact later on. If not done right, the management of the MPA may encounter problems at later stage that will be difficult to correct. Inspired by this working theory, this article describes the effort to establish the Pearl Cays off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua as a protected area. This case-study illustrates the critical actions to be taken during step-zero, i.e., what needs to be considered and done before an MPA is formally declared. The area investigated consists of a number of small islands (cays) and coral reefs, fishing grounds and marine turtle nesting areas. Throughout history, the cays have played an important role in sustaining livelihoods of nearby communities. Although the idea of an MPA was originally conservation, the communities saw it as an opportunity to regain ownership and control of the cays. By Nicaraguan law, in order to establish protected areas, consultation and approval from local people is required. In the case of the Pearl Cays, this has proved difficult. The article demonstrates how MPA initiatives must sometimes relate to already ongoing complex social processes in the area where they are to be instigated.
海洋保护区（MPA）的实施始终是一个起点，即在利益相关者之间构思、沟通和协商该理念的初始阶段。这一阶段发生的事情很可能会对以后产生影响。如果做得不正确，MPA 的管理在以后阶段可能会遇到难以纠正的问题。受这一工作理论的启发，本文描述了在尼加拉瓜加勒比海岸建立珍珠礁保护区的努力。本案例研究说明了在起点零阶段需要采取的关键行动，即在正式宣布 MPA 之前需要考虑和完成的事项。调查区域包括一些小岛（珊瑚礁）、渔业区和海龟筑巢区。历史上，这些珊瑚礁在维持附近社区的生计方面发挥了重要作用。尽管建立 MPA 的初衷是保护，但社区认为这是重新获得对珊瑚礁所有权和控制权的机会。根据尼加拉瓜法律，为了建立保护区，需要征得当地人民的协商和批准。在珍珠礁的案例中，这被证明是困难的。本文展示了 MPA 倡议有时必须与它们将要启动的地区已经存在的复杂社会进程相关联。
