Transcript Fisheries management in CARICOM countries: the present
Fisheries management in Caribbean countries:
information needs of the policy –making process in relation to GEC & the Caribbean Food System
Fisheries Management In the Caribbean
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Fish is second highest source of protein
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Employs around 130,000
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Fisheries production – 123,366 MT
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Significant revenue earner in some countries, e.g. Belize
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Key sector for providing opportunities for rural poor, socio-economically disadvantaged
Fisheries Management In the Caribbean
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Artisanal & small-scale components are significant
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Subsistence fishing also very important
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Fishing communities usually based in low-lying coastal areas
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Landing sites : usually sandy beaches with little added physical infrastructure
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Boats hauled onto beaches, or moored in sheltered areas
Management Objectives
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Biological objectives - conservation of the resource - protection of the ecosystem - protection of biodiversity Economic objectives - Optimise stakeholder profits, - generate employment opportunities - generate revenue through trade and tourism Social objectives - food security - poverty alleviation - equitable distribution of economic benefits
Achieving Management Objectives
• Resource assessment models
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Surplus production models that estimate Maximum Sustainable Yield – MSY, MEY Age-based and size-based models that estimate growth and recruitment over fishing reference points Bioeconomic models Ecosystem-based approaches Models incorporating environmental effects
• Monitoring of catch rates as abundance index
MSY
MEY
MSocY MEY
Ecologically adapted management MSY
ECOLOGICALLY ADAPTED MANAGEMENT (Wilson and Kleban, 1992)
- Nature is non-random but unpredictable - fish populations will vary unpredictably within certain limits - need to understand longer-term ecological relationships - more flexible management systems
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES THAT MAY AFFECT CARIBBEAN FISHERIES - Increase in sea surface temperature - sea level rise
- increased frequency of ENSO events - increased frequency of storms & hurricanes
- changes in rainfall
- changes in sea current systems
INCREASE IN SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE
Coral bleaching - loss of biodiversity
- decreased ecosystem health and resilience - long-term threat to food security
- decreased yield of some traditional reef species
- short to medium-term threat to food security - investment losses
INCREASE IN SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE (cont’d)
Increased frequency of storms & hurricanes
- irreversible coastal habitat destruction (reefs, mangroves) - beach erosion (damage to landing sites) - vessel & gear damage - increased fishing pressure as a result of employment shifts - access and availability of reef fish species, lobster and conch - changes in resource recruitment (damage to nursery areas & changed coastal circulation patterns) - decreased fishing days - increase in ciguatera poisoning
Changes in resource biology
- increased growth & mortality - changes in resource distribution
SEA LEVEL RISE
Coastal habitat loss
- mangroves - loss of many landing sites - submergence of low lying islands often used as fishing bases - saltwater intrusion of coastal and estuarine wetlands
Changes in resource abundance
- decreased stock recruitment to reef & lobster fisheries - decreased fisheries yields - decreased production of coastal & estuarine wetlands
INCREASED FREQUENCY OF ENSOs
Shifts in resource distribution
- decreased local availability of resource
Changes in resource abundance
- decreased stock recruitment to some fisheries
Investment losses
CHANGES IN RAINFALL
Drought - decreased production of freshwater
and mangrove systems
CHANGES IN SEA CURRENT CIRCULATION PATTERNS
Key migrations of oceanic pelagic species
Changes in movement of nutrient enriched water created by upwelling effects and river discharges off Guianas-Brazil shelf
FULFILLING INFORMATION NEEDS OF POLICY MAKERS
Enhancement of current baseline and monitoring data information systems
- resource data - fishery activity data - habitat inventory data, e.g. coral reef, mangroves - environmental data (SST, ocean currents, wind speed)
INFORMATION NEEDS (cont’d)
Research and Development of Management Advice
- biological and ecological studies (resource biology and resource/environment relationships, identify ecosystem indicators related to GEC) - socio-economic studies (vulnerability assessments, evaluation of adaptation responses, community involvement & integrated approach) - technological studies (alternative fishing practices - further development of ecosystem-based fishery models - risk assessment and development of precautionary & participatory approaches to management
INFORMATION NEEDS (cont’d)
Capacity, Legislation and Infrastructure
- evaluate capacity building needs (supporting institutions, HRD & community education and participation in management) - evaluate new or additional infra structural needs - review need for updating /introducing legislation to support proposed changed policies, e.g. habitat protection