4.1 Administration
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- MCA Field Guide Checklist
- Phase 4: Implementation Checklist
- 4.1 Administration accounted for
- 4.2 Planning initiated
- 4.3 Outreach planned and begun
- 4.4 Science program established
- 4.5 Enforcement needs assessed and met
- 4.6 Public uses promoted and managed
- 4.7 Livelihoods identified
- 4.8 Habitat management needs realized
- 4.9 Maintenance identified and scheduled
- 4.10 Funding needs assessed and acquired for the long-term
Administrative activities related to Marine Conservation Agreements (MCAs) are similar to other conservation projects—logistics, communications, travel, personnel and reporting. While planning and funding/budgeting are often considered administrative functions, they are treated separately in the MCA Field Guide because of their relative significance in determining project success. Beyond normal project administrative actions, specific activities related to MCAs are below.
Immediate Actions: As soon as possible upon signing the MCA, the lead conservation organization, whether the implementer or not, should undertake the following administrative actions:
- Ensure that a representative of the lead conservation organization is responsible for overseeing the MCA; this person will likely be the lead of the engagement team.
- Recruit qualified, dedicated people to carry out capacity-strengthening, if necessary, to enable MCA signatories to meet their commitments.
The implementer (whether the lead conservation organization, right-holders or other direct stakeholders) should immediately begin management planning if not already started.
Year One-Plus Actions: After the first year of implementation, implementer feedback and reporting to stakeholdes will likely be necessary:
- Stakeholders, especially leasing agencies (if applicable), may require or desire periodic progress reports and approval of future actions that were not explicitly identified in the terms and conditions of the MCA.
- Contract renewals, extensions or amendments may be required after predetermined time periods—in years one through five for short-term MCAs or after five years for long-term MCAs. Monitoring information should feed into the renegotiation processes and improved strategies for conservation management, delivery of benefits and communications.
Next Sub-step
After the basic administrative actions are accounted for, management planning should be started.