Sustainable Management of Madagascar's Marine Resources

The program aims to reverse the degradation of Madagascar's marine resources by integrating biodiversity conservation and fisheries management within a multi-sectoral marine spatial planning framework. It consists of two primary child projects: one led by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, Oceans and Forests (MEEMF) to expand the MPA network, and another led by the Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries (MRHP) to improve small-scale fisheries governance (SWIOFish2). The program targets tripling MPA coverage to at least 2.5 million hectares by 2020 to meet Aichi Target 11. Key strategies include the establishment of Community-Managed MPAs (CMMPAs), strengthening legal and policy frameworks, and increasing economic benefits for coastal communities through sustainable value chains and ecotourism. The total program cost is estimated at $52,668,672, with $12,706,422 in GEF Trust Fund financing and $39,962,250 in co-financing from the World Bank, government agencies, and NGOs.

• Madagascar's current Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage is significantly below global averages, covering only 3-4% of territorial waters and less than 1% of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• The program intends to triple the national MPA system's area from 820,000 hectares to at least 2.5 million hectares by 2020, potentially reaching 3.5 million hectares if Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) are converted to Community-Managed MPAs (CMMPAs).
• The fisheries sector is a vital economic driver for Madagascar, representing 7% of the GDP and 13% of exports, while providing approximately 500,000 jobs.
• Marine resources are under severe threat from overfishing and illegal markets, with illegal catches estimated at 50,000 tons per year, which is half of the sector's total legal production.
• The program identifies four priority zones for MPA and fisheries management: Antongil Bay in the northeast, the northwest including Ambaro Bay, the Barren Islands and central western coastal areas, and the southwest.
• A primary root cause of marine degradation is the persistence of an open-access regime, which prevents small-scale fishers from managing customary fishing grounds and leaves resources vulnerable to unregulated exploitation.
• The program is structured as a coordinated effort between the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, Oceans and Forests (MEEMF) and the Ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries (MRHP) to harmonize biodiversity and fisheries policies.
• Climate change is identified as a high-probability, high-importance risk that exacerbates anthropogenic threats, specifically causing coral bleaching and increasing the vulnerability of mangroves.
• The program emphasizes gender equality by strengthening the role of women in community decision-making and supporting their leadership in entrepreneurial ventures such as reef gleaning, aquaculture, and mangrove restoration.

APA

WWF International (2016). Sustainable Management of Madagascar's Marine Resources. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/961/69ifnjpyoa_Madagascar_Marine_Program_Project_Framework_Document.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Sustainable Management of Madagascar's Marine Resources. 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/961/69ifnjpyoa_Madagascar_Marine_Program_Project_Framework_Document.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Sustainable Management of Madagascar's Marine Resources |date=28 March 2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/961/69ifnjpyoa_Madagascar_Marine_Program_Project_Framework_Document.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016sustainable, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Sustainable Management of Madagascar's Marine Resources}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/961/69ifnjpyoa_Madagascar_Marine_Program_Project_Framework_Document.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }