Monitoring MPA visitor uses handbook

What is a diving charter?(O. Musard, Agence des Aires Marines Protégées)For about a decade, divers have been positioned asresponsible players. Diving charters reflect this positioningas contractual partnership instruments between theusers and managers of an MPA. They remind divers of anumber of fundamental aspects, but place the emphasison adopting impact-free diving behaviour, advisablediving site access control (with annual communication offigures), reporting of specific environmental informationand risks incurred by failing to respect the undertakings.In return, voluntary commitment is given recognition andmooring points are generally provided, when access tothe MPA is not contingent upon signing the charter, like inPort-Cros, the only case so far. A charter indeed changesaccording to the needs of each of the partners. It cannotbe imposed; it is jointly developed and either adopted orrefused, without any obligation. These changes are alsovery interesting to assess.Reference : Dalias N., Lenfant P., Licari M.L., BardellettiC., 2007. Guide d’aide à la gestion des Aires MarinesProtégées : gestion et suivi de l’activité de plongée sousmarine.Document published by the Conseil Général desPyrénées-Orientales as part of the Interreg IIIC MEDPANprogramme. Conseil Général des Pyrénées Orientales -EPHE - OCEANIDE Contract. 62 pages + appendicesc/ Number of dives by clubsAt the very least, this protocol requires the establishmentof a partnership with diving clubs. Data transfer can befacilitated by introducing a charter of best practices withthese professionals.Medes islands archipelago (Spain).© Credit: Montgrí, Medes islands and Baix Ter Natural Park5.6.5 Example of a managementmeasureMonitoring diving activities in Port-Cros National Parkprovided the manager with the necessary information toinitiate a consultation process with diving clubs operatingin the MPA. This initiative led to a veritable partnershipwith the introduction of a diving charter. Diving operatorsthus commit to promoting practices more respectfulof the vulnerable marine environment to guarantee thecontinuity, or even development, of their activity.Data collected : Monthly number of dives done byclubs.Collection method : Contact with diving clubs.Frequency : Data collected once a year.Time and cost : One day of work to contact the clubsand archive the data.Archiving : Excel© type spreadsheet.5.6.4 AdviceThe number of charters signed does not necessarily indicatethe number of dives done in the MPA as, in somecases, it is not a requirement to sign the charter beforeeach dive. The commitment may be valid for a full yearfor example, in which case the signing party can dive onseveral occasions.We firmly recommend completing the quantitative approachwith a qualitative approach as surveys or interviewsprovide more detailed information about divers'practices, their loyalty to the site and their diving spots. TABLE OF CONTENTS 29 COLLECTION VISITOR USE OBSERVATION AND MONITORING IN MEDITERRANEAN MARINE PROTECTED AREAS