2 results
22 - The Vision for EBM of Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Wider 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 323-334
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
Introduction
Coral reef ecosystems have great importance for the countries of the Wider Caribbean Region in terms of both use and non-use values and services. Several of the contributors to this symposium attest to their importance for fisheries and biodiversity (see Ehrhardt et al. in Chapter 11; Appeldoorn in Chapter 10; Appeldoorn et al. in Chapter 12; Horrocks et al. in Chapter 9). Coral reef ecosystems support livelihoods (see McConney and Salas in Chapter 7) and provide critical ecosystem services (Schuhmann et al. in Chapter 8) including for tourism, although this aspect of their value is not developed in detail in Chapter 8. Caribbean coral reef ecosystems have been degraded by many human impacts of both marine and land-based origin (see Sweeney and Corbin in Chapter 4; Gil and Wells in Chapter 5; Yáñez-Arancibia et al. in Chapter 17). They are among the most complex and biologically diverse marine ecosystems, and will require a holistic ecosystem- based approach for their conservation and sustainable use.
This synthesis chapter presents the outputs of a group process aimed at developing a vision and way ahead for ecosystem-based management (EBM) for coral reef ecosystems in the Wider Caribbean, using the methods described earlier (Fanning et al. in Chapter 1). The chapter first describes a vision for coral reef 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 Coral Reef 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?”
12 - Applying EBM to Queen Conch Fisheries 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 177-186
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
Abstract
Queen conch fisheries are important throughout the Caribbean, yet most stocks have been seriously overfished, such that conch has been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Ecosystem-based management (EBM) offers the possibility of sustaining conch fisheries by addressing aspects of conch biology that directly support production and are otherwise overlooked in quota-based management. Adherence to first principles concerning the maintenance of ecosystem health and a precautionary approach should guide management considerations. For queen conch, critical EBM goals are the maintenance of adult density (especially with respect to reproduction), nursery areas and water/habitat quality. Consideration must also be given to the limits of connectivity through larval dispersal, predator-prey interactions (and the management of other species) and the factors that enhance vulnerability to exploitation. Resulting management strategies would seek to protect adults and juvenile nursery areas through the banning of fishing during the peak of the reproductive season, banning the harvest of small juveniles, integrating fisheries management with coastal zone management to protect nearshore areas and the establishment of a network of marine reserves. Monitoring of the stock and fishery (including comparisons with protected populations and the development of a spatial GIS database) should be used to track and set the level of catch.
The Problem
In the Caribbean, as elsewhere, fisheries management has become more complex, as both the scale of ecosystem exploitation and the nature and extent of anthropogenic impacts have increased (Appeldoorn 2008). Given that much of the region consists of island states with narrow shelves subjected to coastal and land-based activities and resource impacts, the merging of fisheries management and coastal zone management is a trend that is perhaps long overdue. Additionally, fisheries management is hindered by difficulties in data acquisition and analysis due to the high diversity but relative low abundance of species caught, the variety of gears and landing sites, and limited capacity of national and regional agencies. At the same time, many key Caribbean resources, especially those associated with reef environments, are closely tied in space and time to the benthic habitats that provide food and shelter.