One World... Managing resources

The term "zoning" is used in relation to the marine protected area. What does this mean?

Zoning is a tool that helps in separating incompatible activities and ensuring sustainable use. Separation of incompatible activities is carried out both spatially and temporally. Thus, multi-purpose MPAs are designed to allow controllable activities to take place in particular zones within the MPA boundaries and during different times of the year. Zoning is an effective approach to minimising the impact of visitors and users of the area on sensitive and ecologically important areas by applying varying levels of protection.

Zoning schemes are usually made up of core areas with the strictest possible protection; secondary areas where less protection is applied but with strict control of activities; and general purpose areas and buffer zones where regulations are limited and the main function is the protection of the sensitive areas through the control of activities and user exploitation and access.

An analysis of the natural resources and user activities of this MPA have led to a zoning proposal with three levels of protection corresponding to those listed above, which complement well the management objectives being proposed for this MPA.