Spatial Solutions and Their Impacts When Reshuffling Coastal Management Priorities in Small Islands with Limited Diversification Opportunities

Laure Vaitiare André, Simon Van Wynsberge, Mireille Chinain, Clémence Mahana Iti Gatti, Vetea Liao and Serge Andréfouët
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Laure Vaitiare André: IRD Institut de Recherche pour le Développement—France, UMR 9220 Entropie (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement—France, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), BP A5, CEDEX, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
Simon Van Wynsberge: Ifremer Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer, UMR 9220 Entropie (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement—France, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), BP A5, CEDEX, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia
Mireille Chinain: ILM Institut Louis Malardé, Laboratoire des Biotoxines Marines, UMR 241 EIO (Ifremer, Institut Louis Malardé, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de la Polynésie française), BP 30, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Clémence Mahana Iti Gatti: ILM Institut Louis Malardé, Laboratoire des Biotoxines Marines, UMR 241 EIO (Ifremer, Institut Louis Malardé, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de la Polynésie française), BP 30, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Vetea Liao: DRM Direction des Ressources Marines, Fare Ute, BP 20, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Serge Andréfouët: IRD Institut de Recherche pour le Développement—France, UMR 9220 Entropie (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement—France, Université de la Réunion, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), BP A5, CEDEX, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-24

Abstract: In small islands, the potential for new coastal activities and management options are often spatially limited. To reduce dependence on external factors and increase the resilience of populations to global changes and fluctuations in international markets, a recommended pathway is to diversify activities. We used a systematic prioritization tool with single and multiobjective zoning to explore the feasibility of scenarios at various levels of spatial diversification in the Gambier lagoon (French Polynesia), where black pearl culture is economically and spatially dominant. Local managers are committed to economic, livelihood, and environmental sustainability and agree that prioritizing both artisanal fisheries, which provide local food security, and ecosystem conservation should also be considered. Diversification options included the optimized reallocation of farming concessions and the identification of different types of conservation areas while taking into account traditional management areas. The scenarios were set to minimize surface areas and loss of access to existing fishing grounds. The solutions were compared between the scenarios with different cost metrics, allowing further discussions with stakeholders and managers. The Gambier case study shows that exploring diversification options in small islands using systematic prioritization tools can provide local managers with tailor-made plans adapted to island development questions.

Keywords: sustainable marine management; multiobjective zoning; spatial conservation prioritization; marine spatial planning; artisanal fisheries; sustainable aquaculture; French Polynesia; Prioritizr; ciguatera fish poisoning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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