An LMMA is an area of nearshore waters actively being managed by local communities or resource-owning groups, or being collaboratively managed by resident communities with local government and/or partner organizations.
An LMMA strategy offers an alternate and complementary approach to the centrally-managed system where a centralized body (such as a national government agency) largely “commands-and-controls” the management of a marine area, sometimes from a remote location. However, an LMMA does not necessarily exclude national government or other institutional involvement; rather it means that the marine area in question is managed locally, perhaps with or without government aid.
This term was agreed upon by conservation practitioners working throughout Asia and the Pacific during meetings held in August 2000 to introduce the idea of forming a learning network. The phrase "locally-managed" was preferred over "community-based" because participants felt it better represented the work they were doing, which usually involved co-management by the community together with traditional leaders, local or state government agencies, and/or some other body (e.g., non-government organization or university).
An LMMA differs from what is commonly known as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in that LMMAs are characterized by local ownership and/or control, whereas MPAs are typically designated by levels of management via a top-down approach. One or more MPAs or other management techniques or "tools" may be employed within an LMMA.
An LMMA can vary widely in purpose and design; however, two aspects remain constant:
a) a well-defined or designated area, and
b) substantial involvement of communities and/or local governments in decision-making and implementation.
In using an LMMA approach, some coastal communities are reviving methods that have been used traditionally as part of their culture for many generations. Others are using more modern ideas introduced from outside. Some use a combination of both.
What is the LMMA Network?
