WWF-Riserva naturale marina di Miramare How Is Miramare Doing?

Reasons for participating as a pilot site Miramare is the oldest MPA in Italy (1986) Miramare is the oldest MPA in Italy (1986) Miramare is one of the smallest MPA in Italy (120 hectares) Miramare is one of the smallest MPA in Italy (120 hectares) Miramare could be considered as a “Town park” Miramare could be considered as a “Town park” Miramare did not have an evaluation program to measure effectiveness… Miramare did not have an evaluation program to measure effectiveness… Now we have one!

The Miramare Natural Marine Reserve (45°42'N; 13°42'E) Located about 8 km from the city of Trieste, Italy. Located about 8 km from the city of Trieste, Italy. Coastline of 1,700 m and an area of 120 hectares, divided into:Coastline of 1,700 m and an area of 120 hectares, divided into: –a core zone (30 hectares) –buffer zone (90 hectares) The maximum depth reaches 18 m.The maximum depth reaches 18 m. Miramare MPA overview

Major ecological features : - Tidal flats with significant tidal range (about 2 m) - High temperature variation in the water column - Fresh water flows from rain and watershed systems - Coastal currents influenced by strong winds - Both soft and hard bottoms represented along the coast - Input of new oxygenated water into Mediterranean Sea - Eurihaline and eurithermal benthic communities. Miramare MPA overview

Major goals and objectives of Miramare MPA

How was the project incorporated into existing programs at the Miramare MPA One staff member was appointed to do the field-testing evaluation (part-time) and was responsible for: Using and adapting the guidebook to the MPA Organizing meeting with the other staff members in order to coordinate the collection of the data needed to do the evaluation Preparing the report (evaluation and demonstration case) Organizing a final meeting with the MPA staff to interpret the results and to plan future activities (e.g. adaptive management strategy)

Selected Indicators from the Draft Guidebook

What was needed to apply the guidebook

Major challenges of the indicators evaluation Biophysical indicators 1: Out of the 7 fish species counted: 6 (adults) are more abundant within the MPA core area – 1 (juvenile) was more abundant outside the MPA core area (buffer zone) The recruitment area of the 6 (adults) is supposed to be far away from the MPA The recruitment area of the species (juvenile) is close the MPA area. A possible interpretation of these results is that there’s a “spill over” effect of the species found more abundant outside the MPA. “Focal species abundance” data should be enriched by ethological (behavioral) studies “Focal species abundance” data should be enriched by ethological (behavioral) studies.

Major challenges of the indicators evaluation Biophysical indicators 7 Oceanographic physical data is not an indicator of the MPA effectiveness in terms of water quality Miramare just monitor the water quality, the responsible for water quality is another regional agency. Miramare cannot control this variable, only report changes on it. The role of Miramare is to educate the community and the decision- makers in order to limit the impact of human pollution.

Major challenges of the indicators evaluation Socioeconomic and governance (S-E 8/9, 12, 15,: Gov 2) The evaluation of these indicators was measured during winter time (60 interviews) We have only preliminary result New data collected during the 2003 summer are currently under analysis (about 300 interviews were performed)

How results will be used? (adaptive management strategy) Visual census program (inside-outside; research program with the university of Trieste to decide the “useful” species to count as indicator BPh 1) (Bph 1) Creation of areas free from educational activities (Bph 11) Research focused on recruitment of focal species (Bph 1) Socioeconomic and governance research program with the University of Trieste (S-E & Gov indicators) Creation of a new enforcement procedure with the CDP in order to do a more efficient control of the MPA (Gov 11) Improved procedures for disseminating scientific results obtained from studies within the MPA and the surrounding area (S-E & Gov indicators)