Perceptions of compliance in co-managed marine protected areas from three stakeholder groups in two marine protected areas in Maluku, Indonesia

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2017Increasing voluntary compliance to marine protected area (MPA) regulations will increase the probability of MPA success. This research utilizes qualitative interview research to determine perceptions of the MPA, discover the drivers of compliance and noncompliance with MPA regulations, and recommend ways to improve compliance in two remote MPAs in Maluku, Indonesia: Ay MPA and Koon MPA. Additionally, this research uses two social behavioral theories to understand interview responses and behavior in these sites: Lindenberg’s (2001) Goal Framing Theory and Ajzen (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior. This research was conducted with the support of the 5-year Sustainable Ecosystems Advanced (SEA Project), led by the United States Agency for International Development, and is supporting the development of MPAs throughout three Indonesian provinces. Interviews demonstrated that perceptions of the MPA can impact drivers of compliance and noncompliance. Compliance is often driven by expected and realized benefits from the MPA and the social responsibility to behave in a manner that will bring benefits to the community. Noncompliance is often driven by perceived limitations or inability to follow the rules, the undesired perceived loss of freedom as well as the desire to increase one’s resources. This research provides site-specific information and recommendations for SEA Project as efforts continue to build management plans and secure government authorization of these two MPAs