Description du sujet de thèse

The aim of this multidisciplinary thesis project is to study the contribution of MPAs to the well-being of populations, through an in-depth and extended analysis of the concept of spillover. This thesis project will answer the following three questions: - Q1: How is spillover expressed in its various dimensions around MPAs? - Q2: What factors modulate spillover? - Q3: What benefits does spillover bring in the short and longer term? More broadly, this thesis will enrich our understanding of the fundamental role of MPAs in conserving marine ecosystems and improving the well-being of communities dependent on these resources. The work planned will enable us to : - produce multidimensional indicators of the effectiveness of MPAs; - develop spatialized modeling to identify spillover success or failure factors; - propose suitable management scenarios, reconciling conservation, artisanal fishing and food security.

Contexte de travail

Under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the international community has pledged to cover 30% of its maritime space with marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2030. MPAs, delimited areas at sea where human uses are regulated to conserve biodiversity, have multiple recognized ecological and climatic benefits (Grorud-Colvert et al., 2021; Jacquemont et al., 2022; Lester et al., 2009). However, although adjacent socio-ecosystems, notably local fisheries, can benefit directly from MPAs through the “spillover” phenomenon that describes the export of biomass beyond their borders, MPAs are most often decried by fishermen. This leads to a political impasse, and decision-makers set up MPAs with regulations that are too flexible, or even non-existent, to deliver the expected benefits (Schultz et al. 2022). To move the debate forward, both scientific and political, we need to reconcile exploitation and conservation.