Blue Bay Marine Park Management Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY PROJECT NO. MAR/03/G35/A/1G/99 BLUE BAY MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN MINISTRY OF FISHERIES & RODRIGUES REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS SEP TEMBE R 2012 Blue Bay Marine Park 1 Management Plan BLUE BAY MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN ANNEX Blue Bay Marine Park (southern area): La Cambuse and Le Chaland Blue Bay Marine Park 97 Management Plan BLUE BAY MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN APPENDIX A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS AND SWOT ANALYSIS Blue Bay Marine Park 98 Management Plan APPENDIX A BLUE BAY MARINE PARK MANAGEMENT PLAN PARTICIPATORY PROCESS AND SWOT ANALYSIS The Partnerships for Marine Protected Areas in Mauritius and Rodrigues Project (GoM, RRA, UNDP, GEF) was designed to foster sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits from MPAs through broad based participation of stakeholders. The Project was designed as a demonstration to allow for the development of policies, institutional frameworks and co-management arrangements at three MPAs in Mauritius (Blue Bay, Balaclava and SEMPA). The vision of the project aimed toward a functioning co-managed MPA at SEMPA on Rodrigues and, based on lessons derived from this pilot, inform MPA management for the whole of Mauritius, including Blue Bay & Balaclava Marine Parks. Specific objectives of the Project were to: (i) develop an enabling policy and institutional framework for sustainably co-managed MPAs Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.25", Hanging: 0.25", Numbered throughout the Republic of Mauritius + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: i, ii, iii, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Tab after: 0.75" + (ii) develop innovative co-management arrangements for MPAs and adapt them at a Indent at: 0.75", Tab stops: 0.5", List tab + Not at 0.75" representative demonstration site in Rodrigues. For Blue Bay, the management plan was designed in consultation with the Blue Bay Marine Park (BBMP) Sub-working Group, comprised of MoFR scientific and technical staff, NGOs, water sports operators, hotels and other government agency representatives. Participants of the Blue Bay Marine Park Sub-working Group for management planning included: 1. Art Mitchell, UNDP, Management Planner (Consultant) 2. D. Rumjeet, Ministry of Fisheries & Rodrigues (MoFR), Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC), Scientific Officer 3. N. Bheemul, MoFR, AFRC, Technical Officer 4. Mira Hurbungs, MoFR, AFRC, Division Scientific Officer 5. Yajoshi Basant Rai, MoFR, AFRC, Division Scientific Officer 6. Dhanisha Gopaul, MoFR, AFRC, Technical Officer 7. Ravi Mohit, MoFR, AFRC, Scientific Officer 8. Mira S. Koonjul, MoFR, AFRC, Scientific Officer 9. Sanjeev Leckraz, MoFR, AFRC, Blue Bay Marine Park Centre, Technical Officer 10. Ramesh Ujoodha, Blue Bay Marine Park Center, Principal Fisheries Protection Officer 11. Priya Ramnauth, Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, Tourism Enforcement Officer 12. Captain Dookhun, Tourism Authority, Examiner 13. V. S. Gopal, NPCS (National Parks Conservation Service), RDO (Research Development Officer/Wildlife) 14. H. B. Naujeer, NPCS (National Parks Conservation Service), RDO (Research Development Officer/ Wetlands) 15. R. Rampudaruth, Beach Authority, Technical Officer 16. Doris Seneque, Eco-Sud, Secretary 17. Jacqueline Sauzier, Mauritius Marine Conservation Society, President 18. Sergeant Pultoo (Ps7173), National Coast Guard, Blue Bay 19. Laurent Victoire, Shandrai Hotel, Water Sports Office 20. Remy Ram Tohul, Shandrani Hotel, Boathouse Supervisor 21. Jocelin Orange, Totot, Glass Bottom Boat Operator 22. Kersley Mirbelle, Kersley and Azur Boat Tours, Boat Operator Blue Bay Marine Park 99 Management Plan 23. S. Leelachand, Speed Boat Operator, Director 24. Joseph Armininiaud, Boat Operator 25. Jerico Apollon, Blue Lagoon Hotel, Entertainment 26. Rakesh Dookhee, Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel, Night Manager, 27. Mario DelEstrac, Île des Deux Cocos, Naiade, General Manager, 28. Woes Bakker, Eco-Sud Lagon Bleu, Project Manager 29. Ira Ovesen, UNDP, Programme Analyst (Environment) Reports were prepared for each of seven (7) Sub-Working Group meetings and submitted to UNDP and all SWG participants. Meetings were held in July and August 2011: I. 13 July Albion Fisheries Research Centre II. 20 July Blue Lagoon Hotel, Blue Bay III. 26 July Blue Lagoon Hotel, Blue Bay IV. 3 August Shandrani Hotel, Training Centre V. 9 August Shandrani Hotel, Conference Room VI. 16 August Shandrani Hotel, Conference Room VII. 23 August Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel, Conference Room In addition, larger combined Project Working Group meetings or workshops for both Blue Bay and Balaclava participants were held on 27 April and 30 August, 2011. Other informal meetings were held with other stakeholders either in groups or individually, including boat operators, hotel staff and government agencies. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) for five main issues pertaining to BBMP were identified by the Sub-working Group during meetings or workshops. The SWOT analysis results were prepared as a matrix (following) that developed during the planning period. Issues that were analyzed with SWOT were: 1. Governance, including: Implementation arrangements, roles and responsibilities and collaborative or co- management 2. Recreation and Tourism 3. Financing and Funds Management 4. Management Zones 5. Awareness Blue Bay Marine Park 100 Management Plan BLUE BAY MARINE PARK Management Planning SWOT Matrix Current Situation No. Issues Opportunities Threats Strengths Weaknesses 1. Governance Structure in place involving institutions No coordination (working as NGOs willing to participate Lack of funds/funding Including: like Fisheries, etc. individuals; need more Educate fishermen and other people on the Lack of political will implementation Area already demarcated synergy) importance of the Marine Park Lack of capacity for enforcement of arrangements, Adequate regulations and manpower Permit system is not fully Using volunteers to help in management Laws roles and Act, Regulations, enforcement and operating Co-management is possible No community support responsibilities, accountability in place Inadequate staff and funding International recognition as a Ramsar site Changes in management and collaborative Committee for management of BB is Slow decision-making International cooperation and support Political decisions to use more of the or co- existing with involvement of various Limited stakeholders because it is a Ramsar Site (wetland of site for tourist development and management stakeholders (NGOs, fushermen, involvement international importance) construction of more hotels (27/4/11) Ministries and other authorities Lack of transparency Many people are willing to help and change Political interference (edited – entries A Blue Bay Steering Committee is Government can facilitate meetings in Conflicts of interest among co- not directly already in place Mahébourg management stakeholders relevant to Cross-sectoral Government Strengthening networking at the regional Potential for uncontrolled Governance are representation level development moved to other Good amount of people for law Exchange of information and expertise People are not keen to change if they Issues) enforcement do not receive economic benefits Good governance Appropriate manpower to enforce the laws and regulations in the MP Regular consultations with Min. of Fisheries and Coast Guard to know if existing regulations are being properly enforced Coast Guard regularly establishes contraventions for proper management 2. Recreation and Maurice Île Durable Lack of staff Product development Having no cooperation of the hotels Tourism (26/7/11) Mauritius as a tourist destination Not enough communication Infrastructure development Lack of funding Easily accessible and awareness Proper management Pollution could occur on a larger Beautiful environment Not well advertised Control and monitoring scale Employment for local community Excess boat traffic Type of motors (electric?) Political interference Attraction Number of boats operating Capacity building for law enforcement Non-permissible activities (e.g., Involvement of local community: boat Lack of adequate equipment Include BBMP in adverts of Mauritius to feeding fish, loud noise) operators are on board for proper patrolling and attract ecotourists Corruption enforcement Pollution, speeding, environment Safe Use income generated from tourism in Blue Bay Marine Park 101 Management Plan Current Situation No. Issues Opportunities Threats Strengths Weaknesses Recreation and Job creation Type of motors in operation BBMP to improve enforcement in the degradation Tourism Existing zoning plan (polluting) park/CSR Coral bleaching (continued) Existing regulations enforcement in Beach hawkers (pester Review permissible activities Increased illegal operators/ not place tourists) Phasing out line fishing on the shore and in controlling illegal operators Spectacular escape (landscape?) Littering the permissible zones Conflict between boat operators Lots of visitors - BBMP is a popular Lack of adequate equipment Regulate and control the number of boat Negative reaction form certain brand for enforcement operators stakeholders Internationally recognized Lack of training for officers Efficient management Introduction of alien spices Park demarcated No respect of the law in Discipline Increase in predators (e.g., Development (infrastructure) front of the tourists (bad Responsible behavior through awareness