Marine Conservation in Developing Countries: The Economics of Marine Managed Areas

A model for the economics of marine conservation is developed and tested using data from a global sample of Marine Managed Areas (MMAs). Results from logistic regressions indicate that significant determinants of positive MMA effects vary among MMA subgroups. These significant regressors include enforcement in later time periods and certain "goodwill building activities" carried out by MMA management. A structural equation model is developed which indicates that the latent variables influencing MMA outcomes are the same across subgroups of MMAs. Policy implications and recommendations for additional research are discussed.