SEMINAR: OI Seminar - Dr Erika Techera

Title: The Past, Present and Future of Marine Protected Areas

Abstract: Over the last few decades marine protected areas have emerged as a critical tool for the protection of marine species, habitats and ecosystems. Although this terminology is relatively new, the concept of setting aside key ocean areas is of ancient origin. It is well known that many island and coastal communities traditionally used, and in many cases continue to use, ‘no take’ zones to protect marine resources. More recently marine protected areas have featured in both international and domestic environmental law context as an important mechanism to protect the ocean environment. Nonetheless, continuing declines in marine biodiversity have led to further measures including targets being set for the designation of greater ocean areas. The question remains as to whether simply declaring more areas will ensure ocean health. Alternatively, must marine protected areas be ‘reconceived’ to achieve more positive environmental outcomes? Arguably we must move beyond two dimensional maritime zones, to address the three dimensional, complex and dynamic nature of the ocean environment. This presentation will explore marine protected areas from a legal perspective. Commencing with the historical use of ‘no take’ zones under customary law, their treatment under contemporary international law will be examined and finally how they might be developed and better utilised to address the challenges facing our oceans.

Bio: Dr Erika Techera is a Professor in the Faculty of Law at UWA and a member of the Oceans Institute. She is an environmental lawyer whose research interests focus on international and comparative environmental law. She has researched and published in a number of different areas focusing on the governance of marine protected areas and marine species protection including regulatory aspects of shark fishing, finning and tourism. Her other research interests include cultural heritage law (in particular the safeguarding of intangible and underwater cultural heritage) and indigenous peoples and the law (focusing on the Pacific Island states). She is the author of ‘Marine Environmental Governance: from international law to local practice’ (Routledge 2011) and a co-editor of the newly published ‘Routledge Handbook of International Environmental Law’ (2012). Erika joined UWA in January 2012 having previously worked at Macquarie University in Sydney. Prior to that Erika practiced as a barrister in New South Wales.