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?”