The Controversy over Marine Protected Areas: Science meets Policy (SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science Book 0)

This book is a critical analysis of the concept of marine protected areas (MPAs) particularly as a tool for marine resource management. It explains the reasons for the extraordinary rise of MPAs to the top of the political agenda for marine policy, and evaluates the scientific credentials for the unprecedented popularity of this management option. The book reveals the role played by two policy networks – epistemic community and advocacy coalition – in promoting the notion of MPA, showing how advocacy for marine reserves by some scientists based on limited evidence of fisheries benefits has led to a blurring of the boundary between science and politics. Second, the study investigates whether the scientific consensus on MPAs has resulted in a publication bias, whereby pro-MPA articles are given preferential treatment by peer-reviewed academic journals, though it found only limited evidence of such a bias. Third, the project conducts a systematic review of the literature to determine the ecological effects of MPAs, and reaches the conclusion that there is little proof of a positive impact on finfish populations in temperate waters. Fourth, the study uses discourse analysis to trace the effects of a public campaigning policy network on marine conservation zones (MCZs) in England, which demonstrated that there was considerable confusion over the objectives that MCZs were being designated to achieve. The book’s conclusion is that the MPA issue shows the power of ideas in marine governance, but offers a caution that scientists who cross the line between science and politics risk exaggerating the benefits of MPAs by glossing over uncertainties in the data, which may antagonise the fishing industry, delay resolution of the MPA issue, and weaken public faith in marine science if and when the benefits of MCZs are subsequently seen to be limited. Acknowledgements 7 Executive Summary 8 Contents 9 List of Abbreviations 11 List of Figures 14 List of Tables 16 Chapter 1 17 Introduction 17 1.1 The NP Argument 18 1.1.1 Empirical Dimension 18 1.1.2 Normative Dimension 21 1.2 The Social Conservationist Argument 21 1.2.1 Empirical Dimension 21 1.2.2 Normative Dimension 24 1.3 Growth of MPAs 27 1.4 Structure of the Book 30 Chapter 2 31 The Rise and Rise of the Marine Reserves ‘Bandwagon’ 31 2.1 Introduction 31 2.2 Policy Networks 31 2.2.1 Epistemic Community 32 2.2.2 Advocacy Coalitions 35 2.3 Conclusion 39 Chapter 3 40 Bibliometric Test of the MR ‘Bandwagon’ 40 3.1 Introduction 40 3.2 Methods 40 3.2.1 Social Network Analysis 41 3.2.2 Citation Analysis 41 3.3 Results and Discussion 42 3.4 Conclusion 47 Chapter 4 49 Bias in the Peer-reviewed Literature, and Crossing the Science/Policy Divide 49 4.1 Introduction 49 4.2 Pro-MR Bias 50 4.2.1 Methods 51 4.2.2 Results and Discussion 52 Journal Editor and Reviewer Bias 52 Author Self-Censorship 57 4.3 The Science/Policy Divide 59 4.3.1 The Linear Model 59 4.3.2 The Deliberative Model 59 4.3.3 Is Scientific Advocacy of MRs Acceptable? 61 4.4 Conclusion 63 Chapter 5 65 Critique of the Scientific Evidence for Fisheries Benefits of MRs 65 5.1 Introduction 65 5.2 Methods 66 5.2.1 Data Collection 66 5.2.2 Literature Classification 66 5.3 Results 67 5.3.1 Empirical Studies 67 Number of Empirical Studies 67 Type of MPA Studied 68 Ecosystems and Habitats Studied 69 Main Groups of Species Studied 69 Empirical Research Effort per Marine Province 69 ‘Quality’ of Empirical Field Studies 71 5.3.2 Theoretical Studies 73 5.4 Discussion 76 5.4.1 Drawbacks of Targets 76 5.4.2 Skewed Focus of Literature 79 5.4.3 Mixed Evidence 82 5.4.4 Difficulties of Enforcement 93 5.5 Conclusion 94 Chapter 6 95 Case Study of the ‘English Patient’ 95 6.1 Introduction 95 6.2 Sources of Data 98 6.3 Results and Discussion 99 6.3.1 Planning Work Preceding MCAA Drafting (1999–2006) 99 6.3.2 Planning of MCZs (2006–present) 107 Controversy over the Objectives of MCZs 109 Controversy over Data Deficiencies 114 Controversy Over Time-Scales 117 Controversy Over Consultation 118 Controversy Over Equity 121 6.3.3 The Outcome of the MCZ Site Selection Process 123 6.4 Conclusion 126 Chapter 7 127 Conclusion 127 7.1 Introduction 127 7.2 Summary 128 7.3 Wider Implications 129 7.3.1 Role of Politics in the MR Debate 130 7.3.2 Role of Scientific Advocacy in the MR Debate 134 7.3.3 Role of Stakeholders in the MR Debate 137 7.3.4 Role of Caution in the MR Debate 139 7.3.5 Reconciliation Between NP and SC 142 7.4 Conclusion 147 References 148 Index 169 Acknowledgements; Executive Summary ; Contents; List of Abbreviations; List of Figures; List of Tables; Chapter 1; Introduction; 1.1 The NP Argument; 1.1.1 Empirical Dimension; 1.1.2 Normative Dimension; 1.2 The Social Conservationist Argument; 1.2.1 Empirical Dimension; 1.2.2 Normative Dimension; 1.3 Growth of MPAs; 1.4 Structure of the Book; The Rise and Rise of the Marine Reserves 'Bandwagon'; Chapter 2; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Policy Networks; 2.2.1 Epistemic Community; 2.2.2 Advocacy Coalitions; 2.3 Conclusion; Bibliometric Test of the MR 'Bandwagon'; Chapter 3; 3.1 Introduction Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction....Pages 1-14 The Rise and Rise of the Marine Reserves ‘Bandwagon’....Pages 15-23 Bibliometric Test of the MR ‘Bandwagon’....Pages 25-33 Bias in the Peer-reviewed Literature, and Crossing the Science/Policy Divide....Pages 35-50 Critique of the Scientific Evidence for Fisheries Benefits of MRs....Pages 51-80 Case Study of the ‘English Patient’....Pages 81-112 Conclusion....Pages 113-133 Back Matter....Pages 135-162