Monitoring

Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas and Exclusive Economic Zones

Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the Monitoring of Marine Protected Areas and Exclusive Economic Zones

Vast areas of the ocean (millions of km2) have been designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPA), marine reserves, shark sanctuaries and other conservation categories.  Even in the absence of conservation categories overlying a nation’s 200-mile offshore exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the EEZ itself must be monitored for compliance.  Monitoring conservation areas and EEZs for legal and illegal uses such as fishing and mining is a challenge.

Monitoring Biodiversity, Socioeconomic and Management Effectiveness

​The objective of monitoring and evaluation is to determine if the management plan and annual work plans effectively contribute to achieving the plan’s objectives and desired conditions for the protected area. Monitoring and evaluation tasks should focus on rare resources, on activities authorized by the protected area administration, or on basic information needs for the protected area  administration.  With plan implementation under way, monitoring will provide the feedback loop for evaluating the plan.

Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) Methodology

Ervin, J. 2003. Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) Methodology. WWF, Gland, Switzerland.

The Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) methodology provides protected area agencies with a country-wide overview of the effectiveness of protected area management, threats, vulnerabilities and degradation.  It provides follow-up recommendations and is an important first step in assessing and improving protected area management. It is described online on the WWF website.