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A Fuzzy Logic Approach to Marine Spatial Management

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Abstract

Marine spatial planning tends to prioritise biological conservation targets over socio-economic considerations, which may incur lower user compliance and ultimately compromise management success. We argue for more inclusion of human dimensions in spatial management, so that outcomes not only fulfill biodiversity and conservation objectives, but are also acceptable to resource users. We propose a fuzzy logic framework that will facilitate this task- The protected area suitability index (PASI) combines fishers’ spatial preferences with biological criteria to assess site suitability for protection from fishing. We apply the PASI in a spatial evaluation of a small-scale reef fishery in Sabah, Malaysia. While our results pertain to fishers specifically, the PASI can also be customized to include the interests of other stakeholders and resource users, as well as incorporate varying levels of protection.

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  1. 1RM = 0.33USD, as of January 31, 2011.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all fishers who participated in interviews and the catch log programme. Lydia Teh acknowledges funding from the University of British Columbia’s Four Year Doctoral Fellowship programme and the Pacific Century Graduate Scholarship. Louise Teh acknowledges funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The fuzzy logic expert system is based on a template developed by WWL Cheung.

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  1. Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada

    Lydia C. L. Teh & Louise S. L. Teh

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  1. Lydia C. L. Teh
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  2. Louise S. L. Teh
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Correspondence to Lydia C. L. Teh.

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Teh, L.C.L., Teh, L.S.L. A Fuzzy Logic Approach to Marine Spatial Management. Environmental Management 47, 536–545 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-011-9645-0

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