Stakeholder Evaluation Priorities for Demonstrating Marine Protected Area Effectiveness at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Canada

This study addresses the often advocated involvement of stakeholder groups in all aspects of marine protected area management including the development of an evaluation program. In the absence of clear management objectives, the study investigates the opinions of five non-aboriginal stakeholder groups on the importance, purpose and content of an evaluation at Pacific Rim National Park on the West coast of Canada. Information needs of stakeholders are identified in an open question format as well as based on a list of pre-defined indicators. Findings indicate that both approaches identify unique indicators. Indicators revealed in the open-ended format are more detailed and reflect the local context of the park reserve. Presenting a list of indicators, however, illustrates evaluation priorities more clearly as frequencies of responses for priority indicators are higher. Statistical analysis reveals general agreement among the five groups on the importance, purpose, and content of an evaluation. Only a few differences are obvious in the choice of evaluation indicators between commercial and non-commercial stakeholder groups.