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Benzaken, D., Miller-Taei, S.,  Wood, L. 2007. Status of Policy and Target Development and Implementation for Marine Protected Areas/Marine Managed Areas in the Pacific Islands Region - A Preliminary Assessment and Future Directions

This paper is based on presentations and discussions held during a marine managed areas (MMAs) session organised by National and Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Conservation International (CI) as part of the “Our Seas of Islands” Regional Forum for Oceania. The workshop was convened by NOAA, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and other partners, in Hawaii in January 2007. Although it precedes Govan et al’s (2009) extensive study of MMAs in the region, it never-the-less contains some interesting discussions and information.

It describes the various treaties and agreements that different Pacific Island Countries and Territories have signed up to along with any protected area commitments (regional and country specific). The authors conclude that there was a data deficiency in the region which makes tracking progress towards targets a challenge.