Phase 1: Feasibility Analysis

1. MCA Field Guide
2. MCA Field Guide Checklist
3. Phase 1: Feasibility Analysis Checklist
4. 1.1 Conservation targets are established
5. 1.2 Threats and strategies are determined
6. 1.3 Owners, managers, and users are known
7. 1.4 Laws and policies are supportive
8. 1.5 Organizational capacity is sufficient
9. 1.6 Stakeholders and their issues are identified
10. 1.7 Costs and financing are assessed
11. 1.8 Reporting has been completed

The feasibility analysis is designed to assist organizations in determining whether Marine Conservation Agreements (MCAs) can help meet the organization's conservation goals at specific sites or for specific species. The criteria within the analysis can augment existing decision-making criteria organizations may already have or can stand alone when other criteria are absent. In general, if projects do not meet all or most of the criteria, then other conservation strategies may be more effective.

Determining the feasibility of successfully applying MCAs at specific sites or to specific activities requires knowledge of both the proposed sites and activities as well as their regional or national contexts.

While analyses can take many forms and in many cases may take longer than expected , we suggest at least two possible levels of feasibility analyses—initial and in-depth. These two levels of analyses can be used in conjunction with one another or separately. Our current knowledge about the feasibility of using MCAs in a limited set of countries and U.S. ocean coast states can be accessed through the Country Analyses and U.S. State Analyses pages. To note is that these analyses focus primarily on laws and policies and, as such, do not constitute comprehensive analyses as described in Phase 1.

Initial Analysis

To gain a relatively quick, initial understanding of whether an MCA can be applied to a site or activities we suggest an initial analysis be undertaken. This initial analysis, taking approximately two weeks, will determine the basic parameters of the situation, to include the conservation targets, threats, actions, stakeholders, partners and issues. If the initial analysis is positive, then one of two actions can be taken: 1) an MCA project can be formally launched; or 2) an in-depth feasibility analysis (see below) may be undertaken.

Determining whether to immediately launch an MCA project versus undertaking additional feasibility analyses depends on how comfortable field staff, organizational decision-makers and funders are with the available information and how urgent the conservation need is. In any case, the initial analysis will aid in the preparation of proposals to decision-makers and donors.

The initial analysis should consider at least the following four elements to indicate that an MCA is a viable tool for a site or activity:

1. There is a conservation organization (preferably locally-based) that is capable of designing and overseeing the MCA project. This "lead" organization must be able to conduct engagement activities, negotiations and follow-up in the field, and support the overall process with technical expertise such as financial management, monitoring and fundraising. A lead conservation organization may not have all the necessary capacities in-house, but must be able to partner with others as needed.
2. There is an identifiable owner, manager or user (collectively, right-holders) of the lands, resources or ecosystem services targeted for conservation who can serve as a clear agreement counterpart (i.e., an entity or entities that are interested in the conservation outcome, or for whom an MCA could make the conservation outcome attractive).
3. The actions required to abate threats to the conservation targets can be performed by the right-holders, lead conservation organization, or other direct stakeholders, or the agreement can create enabling conditions for the actions to be performed.
4. There is some other attractive characteristic to the site, such as:

In-depth Analysis

For MCA projects that pass the initial analysis, or when the initial analysis is by-passed, a formal, in-depth feasibility analysis may be required or desired. Much of the information necessary for the in-depth analysis will likely be known by the lead conservation organization and partners, but some fieldwork and additional study may be needed. If fieldwork requires engagement with potential stakeholders, it is especially important to avoid raising expectations about the project prior to completing Phase 2: Engagement and Phase 3: Agreement Design.

First Sub-step

To begin the in-depth feasibility analysis, conservation organizations should explicitly identify their conservation targets.

Proceed to 1.1 Conservation Targets

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