MPAs typically control only direct human activities like destructive fishing practices that are the localized problems. We must keep in mind from what we learnt in Global Threats. Even if local threats are being managed, there is still the looming fact that global threats play a part as well, in reefs conservation. And conservation scientists are cautioning that the extent of damage from global threats seem to be overwhelming the benefits of MPAs. A challenge then, would be to rethink planning for MPAs to maximize the benefits they provide.

Additionally many reefs are affected by threats that originate further away, especially pollutants and sediments. Though MPA have boundaries, land practice in areas outside MPAs are still able to affect the coral reefs as well. This poses a challenge for which more management policies will have to be developed to deal with and include in reef conservation policies.

Also, I’m sure everyone knows about marine tourism. In recent years, there’s increasing interest in nature, conservation and environmental matters and this has led to a bloom in ecotourism, which include marine tourism Marine tourism is expanding and with technical advance in equipment, along with the aforementioned rise in interest in nature, there is increased popularity in coral reef recreation, especially scuba diving.

You may be thinking, ‘But isn’t marine tourism a good sign? Isn’t it supposed to be beneficial for conservation of reefs?’

It is. But there are complications and problems as well. Though the bloom in marine tourism bodes well economically, as some MPAs have been able to be self-financing through user’s fees like the marine parks like Saba in the Caribbean, it serves as a challenge to MPAs as well. Divers, especially, actually do damage coral reefs. At heavily used dive sites in Australia, Caribbean and the Red Sea, there are reports of broken corals, dead, re-attached and abated corals as a result of divers. Branching corals especially seem to be vulnerable to breaks. Though a large majority of divers contact the reefs, it is but only a small minority that deals most of the damage. Fins cause the most amount of damage to the reefs, though physical contact and re-suspending of sediments. Camera equipments too are also damaging to reefs, as camera users are more likely to contact the reefs versus the non-camera users.

Education via diving companies serves as a challenge as well as often these companies provide briefings that last only for a few minutes and which often do not include information on how to prevent damaging of reefs.

In Southeast Asia, most of the MPAs are controlled via a central government programmes. But local conflicts and low enforcement make it a challenge in managing MPA in some places. This resulted in hundreds of MPAs emerging, but only a tiny number operates in a manner that fulfills their objectives.

Though there are various monitoring programmes that assess reef habitats across Southeast Asia, existing information is inadequate to make informed decisions in many locations. For many areas, even basic mapping of coral reefs locations is insufficient. And though the several monitoring programmes of MPAs provide summery information of the coral reefs status, the absence of a centralized information system in this region makes coordination of information limited and regional information network not well integrated together.

There are also many MPAs that are not adequately funded or staffed for effective management of MPAs. An example is in Philippines, where the government agencies who manage coral reefs are generally understaffed and insufficiently funded. Though many laws and regulations on coral reefs exist, they are not sufficiently enforced. Very few of the MPAs in Philippines are effectively managed.

I will talk more about how to overcome some of these challenges in Your Role. For every one of us, we can play a part in moving along the maintenance and conservation of coral reefs.