A governance analysis of Ningaloo and Shark Bay Marine Parks, Western Australia: Putting the ‘eco’ in tourism to build resilience but threatened in long-term by climate change?

Climate change poses a significant long-term threat to the foundation species of Ningaloo and Shark Bay Marine Parks, despite their governance frameworks demonstrating world-leading effectiveness in addressing proximal impacts from local activities. A governance analysis using the MPA governance framework revealed that both parks employ diverse incentives that promote conservation objectives and equity, with highly evolved regulations leading to the stabilization or recovery of depleted fish stocks. However, challenges remain, including recreational fishing impacts, enforcement capacity, penalties for deterrence, cross-jurisdictional coordination, transparency in research, and tensions with the recreational fishing sector. While marine wildlife tourism governance is considered good practice, global action to mitigate climate change is critical for the long-term resilience of these iconic ecosystems.

Jones, P. J. S. (2021). A governance analysis of Ningaloo and Shark Bay Marine Parks, Western Australia: Putting the ‘eco’ in tourism to build resilience but threatened in long-term by climate change? Marine Policy, 127, 103636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103636