The Economic Impact of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide input into the decision process regarding a proposed marine sanctuary. The clock was ticking on President Bush's last term of office, as 9 months remained, and a consortia of foundations was pressing forward to encourage him to designate another ocean monument, following his designation of the largest such marine monument, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, in 2006. Key benefits fell in the areas of visitor spending due to a visitors' center, media attention, scientific tourism and high-end ecotourism. Costs were quite minimal, consisting of potential fishing leases and staffing to co-manage the monument activities. Results show the difficulty in estimating costs a priori in such conditions of uncertainty and without the luxury of primary data collection.

Keywords:

• economic impact
• marine national monument
• Northern Mariana Islands
• sanctuary

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by a contract from the Pew Foundation, administering the Ocean Legacy Program.