| In recent years, recognition that human activities threaten the biological integrity and socioeconomic value of the world's oceans has spurred widespread establishment of underwater parks, fishery reserves, and marine sanctuaries. These marine protected areas (MPAs) are an integral component of local, national, and international biodiversity conservation and sustainable development policies, but many MPAs fail to achieve their policy objectives. Little social scientific research exists to explain the variation in MPA performance, or to inform the development of more effective MPAs.;To fill this knowledge gap, I conducted a comparative study of three MPAs in the Wider Caribbean: Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas; Barbados Marine Reserve, Barbados; and Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize. Using data collected with standard anthropological field methods, I tested hypotheses derived from the "new institutionalism" literature regarding two questions. First, what factors shape the social and biological performance of MPAs? Second, what factors shape MPA emergence and evolution? The answers to these questions not only explain variation in MPA performance and inform development of more effective MPA policy, but also provide insights into a theoretical issue at the heart of positive political economy: the relationship between institutions and individual choices.;My results are generally consistent with theoretical predictions. Clear boundaries, well-defined resource use rights, accountable monitoring and enforcement systems, graduated sanctions, accessible conflict resolution mechanisms, and user self-governance rights were correlated with positive social and biological outcomes. Institutional choices regarding MPA rules and regulations were shaped by extant institutions and actors' beliefs, values, and interests. Institutionalization of these choices was shaped by external coercion, institutional legitimacy, and actors' self-interests, beliefs, and values.;My findings have significant implications for scientific theory and social policy. First, in a much broader range of settings than has been previously shown, I demonstrate that political theory accurately predicts the general relationship between institutions and the state of social and biological systems. Second, I develop an integrated theoretical framework for analyzing institutional change that explains MPA emergence and evolution. Finally, I present a theoretically derived, empirically grounded framework for MPA governance that could significantly improve the performance of current environmental policies. |
