Marine conservation in a Southwest Portuguese natural park

Most of the SW Portuguese continental coast is protected by a natural park (Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina – PNSACV). A marine zone 2 km wide has been designated along the coast of this park (ca. 130 km) with oceanic sandy beaches, extensive rocky shores, and small estuaries and coastal lagoons. In this coast, intensive and traditional fisheries affect several target species for subsistence, commercial use or recreation. Most regulations are national and almost no specific regulations are in place to allow sustainable exploitation. Control and enforcement are generally insufficient or ineffective and the decrease of catches and the increase of fishing effort are apparent. In order that these resources and habitats can be exploited sustainably, there is an urgent need for taking management and conservation measures, like the effective use and update of existing regulations and the designation of marine protected areas. The restoration of exploited populations in marine reserves is one of several potential benefits of this protection, as well as the export of fish biomass to adjoining areas and the improvement of conservation, education, science, tourism and recreation. The existing marine protection of this natural park is an opportunity for taking such management and conservation measures, in an adaptive and integrated process that should allow co-responsibility of users and managers. We present a review of estimates of intensity and yield of fisheries, data on users perception of management and conservation needs, and proposals for the implementation of a marine conservation programme in PNSACV through the designation and management of marine protected areas