An International Wilderness Law and Policy Roundtable:

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An International Wilderness Law and Policy
Roundtable Lessons Learned and Expanding Global
Applications
Ocean Wilderness Breakout Session Report
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Morning Session

• Defining Wilderness in the Ocean Context
• Topics for Discussion
• What are the relevant wilderness values that
  might be most important in preserving ocean
  wilderness?
• Can we develop, and if so what might be, a
  working definition for ocean wilderness?
• ? Are the precedents for applying definitions of
  wilderness into new and challenging environments
  applicable to ocean wilderness?

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Findings of the Morning Session

• Consensus that US Wilderness Act, where
  jurisdiction exists (ex. National Parks,
  Refuges), is indeed relevant and can be directly
  applied to management of marine wilderness.
• Ocean wilderness is multidimensionalinvolves
  active consideration of the areas above, on, and
  below the sea surfaceareas might require
  differing management approaches, but must all be
  included
• Outcomes more important than wordswhere
  Wilderness Act jurisdiction does not currently
  exist (ex. NMSP) can protect wilderness values
  through zoning, without evoking the W wordas
  has been done at GBRMPA.

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Draft Working Definition Marine Wilderness
Areas of the marine environment that are
untrammeled and generally undisturbed by human
activities and dedicated to the preservation of
ecological integrity, biological diversity, and
environmental health. An area of marine
wilderness may provide 1) opportunities
for quiet appreciation and enjoyment in such a
manner that will leave these areas unimpaired for
future generations as marine wilderness
2) continued opportunities for subsistence uses
and indigenous cultural practices.
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Marine Wilderness Values
Values of Wilderness and Marine Protected Areas
underlying the consensus definition
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Afternoon Session
The Role of Wilderness in Ecosystem-Based
Management of the Marine Environment Topics for
Discussion ? Does the term wilderness matter
in an ecosystem-based ocean management context?
? Does, and if so where does, ocean wilderness
fit into the existing MPA lexicon? ? What are
the challenges of operationalizing marine
wilderness?
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Afternoon Session Findings

• wilderness may be important as an element of
  MPA networks within the context of regional
  ecosystem-based management, but more thought
  needs to be given to best fit
• Inventory of and details regarding existing
  designations is largely unavailable. MPA
  Inventory being developed by the joint NOAA/DOI
  National MPA Center should be collecting detailed
  information regarding existing wilderness
  designations in marine areas.

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The Devil is in the Details
As regards operationalizingbig issues seem to
be recreational fishing - should not be
permitted simply because of political
pressurecan be effectively managed with gear,
time and area access restrictions, and other
traditional recfish management measures.
motorized access - probably necessary, for
safety and practicality, but where vessel size,
draft, power, etc, can be limited it should, and
non-motorized areas should be considered where
appropriate. determining how disturbed an area
could be and still warrant wilderness designation
- having some sense of disturbance history and
recovery rates would be importantjust seeing
the extent of human disturbance might be
difficult.
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Expanding our Linguistic Horizons
Hooning (Australian English) Def. - Acting in
an irresponsible manner, especially while
operating a vehicle (or vessel) (ex. erratic
and unpredictable operation of a jetski)