Science applied to public use management and knowledge boundaries of Marine Protected Areas: from visitors' experience to biodiversity of subtropical mesophotic reefs

• Grant number: 19/19423-5
• Support type: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2020 - January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Applied Zoology
• Cooperation agreement: Secretaria do Meio Ambiente - Fundação Florestal
• Principal Investigator: Fabio dos Santos Motta
• Grantee: Fabio dos Santos Motta
• Home Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Guilherme Henrique Pereira Filho
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/06440-6 - Structure of reef fish assemblages of the mesophotic reefs of the Laje de Santos Marine State Park and Queimada Grande island and surroundings (APA Marinha do Litoral Centro), BP.TT

Abstract

Marine Protected areas (MPAs) are known as an important mechanism for long-term sustainability, as they help ensuring the provision of ecosystem services that are critical for prosperity and human well-being. Besides biodiversity conservation, MPAs may also enhance services related to culture, tourism, research, education, among others. However, one of the main the barrier to MPA performance is the limitation of knowledge for decision-making. In this sense, the project aims to fill critical knowledge gaps for two MPAs of the São Paulo State, the Laje de Santos Marine State Park and Queimada Grande Island (Litoral Centro Marine Environmental Protected Area). For the first time, this work will assess the human dimension of diving tourism as well as characterize the mesophotic reefs of these two MPAs. The first research seeks to investigate the relationships between the demographic characteristics of the visitors, aspects of their experience (preferences, motivations, satisfaction and perceptions) and the MPA management. The study will be conducted through semi-structured questionnaires applied to divers. The initiative intends to build knowledge about the influence of the MPA management on the visitors experience as well as provide insights for the planning of recreational diving in MPAs with different contexts and management regimes. The biodiversity mesophotic reefs will be characterized using Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and DropCam. Reef fish and benthic assemblages structure will be assessed aiming to reveals to managers and the society important natural values still little known in the MPAs and subtropical waters. Thus, the present project will produce crucial data for adaptive management of these MPAs (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARCONI, MARINA; GIGLIO, VINICIUS J.; PEREIRA FILHO, GUILHERME H.; MOTTA, FABIO S. Does quality of scuba diving experience vary according to the context and management regime of marine protected areas?. OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT, v. 194, AUG 15 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.