and currently supports a population of over 7500 people. Velondriake, which means "to live with the sea is home to the Vezo, or fishing people whose cultural identity is inextri- cably tied to the marine environment (Astuti. 1995) The locally managed marine area was established in 2006 and ratified in 2009 in response to concerns over resource depletion: its man- agement plan seeks to empower local communities to manage their coastal and marine resources, support local culture. pro- tect biodiversity, improve livelihoods and promote environmental awareness (Harris, 2007). Following its establishment, a variety of management measures were enacted including a temporary octopus fisheries closure regime, and bans on destructive fishing practices (Andriamalala and Gardner 2010). Despite these recent