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24 - The Vision for EBM of Continental Shelf Ecosystems in the Wider Caribbean
- Edited by Lucia Fanning, Robin Mahon, Patrick McConney, L. Verhart
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- Book:
- Towards Marine Ecosystem-Based Management in the Wider Caribbean
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 22 January 2021
- Print publication:
- 15 July 2012, pp 347-354
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- Chapter
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Summary
Introduction
Continental shelf ecosystems have high importance for the continental countries of the Wider Caribbean Region. They support important shrimp and groundfish fisheries (Phillips et al. Chapter 15) and snapper fisheries on their outer slopes (Heileman Chapter 13). There are also important linkages between the former fisheries and the many coastal and estuarine lagoons and wetlands that occur in these countries (Yáñez-Arancibia et al. Chapter 17). They support livelihoods (McConney and Salas Chapter 7) and provide critical ecosystem services (Schuhmann et al. Chapter 8). Continental shelf ecosystems have been degraded by many human impacts of both marine and land-based origin (Sweeney and Corbin Chapter 4; Gil and Wells Chapter 5).
This synthesis chapter presents the outputs of a group process aimed at developing a vision and way ahead for ecosystem based management (EBM) for continental shelf ecosystems in the Wider Caribbean, using the methods described earlier (Fanning et al. Chapter 1). In terms of structure, the chapter first describes a vision for continental shelf EBM and reports on the priorities assigned to the identified vision elements. It then discusses how the vision might be achieved by taking into account assisting factors (those that facilitate achievement) and resisting factors (those that inhibit achievement). The chapter concludes with guidance on the strategic direction needed to implement the vision, identifying specific actions to be undertaken for each of the vision elements.
The vision
The occupational breakdown of members of the Continental Shelf Ecosystems Working Group reflected the diversity of affiliations present at the EBM Symposium and included governmental, intergovernmental, academic, non-governmental and private sector (fishers and fishing industry and consulting) representatives. With guidance provided by the facilitator, this diverse group of participants was asked to first address the question of “What do you see in place in 10 years time when EBM/EAF has become a reality in the Caribbean?” This diversity provided for a fruitful and comprehensive discussion which is summarized in Table 24.1, in terms of the key vision elements and their subcomponents, and in Figure 24.1, which illustrates the level of priority assigned to each of the vision elements.
5 - Impacts of Land-based Marine Pollution on Ecosystems in the Caribbean Sea: Implications for the EBM Approach in the Caribbean
- Edited by Lucia Fanning, Robin Mahon, Patrick McConney, L. Verhart
-
- Book:
- Towards Marine Ecosystem-Based Management in the Wider Caribbean
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 22 January 2021
- Print publication:
- 15 July 2012, pp 69-84
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
Abstract
Land-based marine pollution (LMP) is complex, population dependent, expensive to remedy, and a threat to both human and marine ecosystem health. It is one of the most difficult marine issues to tackle and resolve successfully. Scientists, managers, and policy makers have addressed it in many coastal states since the 1960s, placing pollution control into several treaties, agreements, and conventions, most of them still being implemented. This chapter discusses sewage (domestic and industrial), heavy metals, hydrocarbons, sediment uploads, and agrochemicals as the most important sources of LMP pollution to the Caribbean Sea region. It also addresses invasive species, marine debris, and thermal contamination as threats to the health of the most important coastal and offshore ecosystems of the region. The harm that pollutants cause to species and habitats, e.g., coral reefs and mangrove forests, is contrasted with the potential of some marine ecosystems to resist and recover from some types of pollution, e.g., oil spills. The chapter serves as a guide to environmental managers on the priority LMP issues in the Caribbean Sea region, aspects of each issue to consider with urgency and commitment and the importance of ecosystembased management (EBM) for prevention, mitigation, and remediation of LMP.
Introduction
The Caribbean Sea is one of the world's largest salt water seas, with approximately 2,500,000 km2 encompassing a wide variety of ecosystems including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, rocky shores, soft bottoms, and others (Sheppard 2000). An estimated 100 million people now live in the area in 26 countries and 19 dependent territories (Fanning et al. 2007), using the Caribbean Sea as a source of goods and services and in many places highly impacting its ecosystems (Jackson 1997).
Land-based marine pollution (LMP) is a well recognised coastal issue for coastal states globally and is considered, due to its inherent complexity from sources to governance, to be one of the most difficult marine environmental issues to tackle and resolve successfully. Scientists and managers alike have been addressing the issue in many countries since the 1960s.