Within an overall LMMA strategy, there are a number of specific tools (strategies or actions) that can be used to manage resources and counter threats, including:

• Full Reserve – complete protection of all natural resources within a defined area. Often called a “sanctuary,” “no-take zone,” or “fully-protected area.”

• Species-Specific Harvest Refugia – a ban on harvesting one or more species or individuals of a certain size and/or sex within a defined area.

• Effort, Gear or Behavioral Restrictions – rules limiting harvesting effort or particular uses within a defined area. These can include fishing gear restrictions, fishing effort limitations (e.g. number of fishers, number of boats, catch quotas, etc.), type of behavior allowed/disallowed (e.g. recreational diving, no anchoring), and licensing limitations.

• Seasonal Restrictions – rules limiting what time of year overall fishing or species-specific harvesting may take place.

These tools may be used in any combination and/or over a period of time and spatial scales depending on the particular situation to achieve the best results. For more information on various tools, visit the Resources section of our website.