Marine protected areas (MPAs) are of growing interest globally. They are principally studied from a biological perspective, with some cases documenting improved environmental conditions and increased fish yields. The MPAs that meet narrowly defined biological goals are generally presented as “successes”. However, these same MPAs may, in fact, be social “failures” when social evaluation criteria are applied. A review of four MPAs in the Philippines and Indonesia demonstrates this scenario. This paper reviews the historic and present management structures, using standard measures of biological and social success.