Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries Initiative (C-fish)

Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries Partnership Initiative

(C-FISH )

CARIBSAVE Research Partner Workshop

CDKN Managing Partner, GIVRAPD, ParCA,

C-FISH

July 23-24, 2014

Dr Owen Day

Director of Ecosystem-based Adaptation

CARIBSAVE

Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries Partnership Initiative

A 4-year project (2012-2016) funded by UKAID (£2.1 million) through the

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), and implemented by

CARIBSAVE. It is part of The CARICOM Regional Framework for Achieving

Development Resilient to Climate Change implemented by the CCCCC.

The aim is to improve the management of 15 no-take MPAs in Jamaica,

Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Dominica, in order to

promote sustainable livelihoods and increase the resilience of coastal resources

to climate change.

Caribbean Fish Sanctuaries

Partnership Initiative (C-FISH)

Objectives of C-FISH Initiative

• To support and promote effective MPA management as a strategy for

Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to climate change.

• To provide financial & technical support for the management of

community-based MPAs.

• To promote alternative livelihoods in fishing communities & build

mutually beneficial linkages between tourism & fisheries sectors.

• To facilitate stakeholder participation & to monitor the effectiveness

of MPA management.

• To promote public awareness of the environmental, social &

economic benefits that MPAs can generate in Caribbean countries.

Economic Importance of Coral Reefs in the Caribbean

Coral reefs contribute between US$ 3 to 5 billion annually to tourism, fisheries and

coastal protection in the Caribbean.

Local Threats

Overfishing

Destructive fishing

Coastal development

Land-based pollution

Marine pollution/damage

Global Threats

Warming seas

Ocean acidification

Threats to Caribbean Coral Reefs

“Many of the Caribbean's

coral reefs could vanish

in the next 20 years,

according to a report

published by the

International Union for

the Conservation of

Nature (IUCN)”

July 2014

Negril Beach, Nov.

2010

Consequence of Over-Fishing

Protecting and enhancing the livelihoods, environments and economies of the Caribbean Basin

Recommendations for Managers

Focus on Resilience

1. Protect and restore coastal wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs

2. Manage watersheds to reduce sedimentation and coastal pollution

3. Manage reef fisheries and protect reef herbivores, e.g. parrotfish

4. Establish networks of Marine Protected Areas

C-FISH Component 1 Capacity Building For MPA Management

• >US$500,000 in grants given for

enforcement; wardens, managers,

equipment, patrol boats, engines…

• Strengthening Governance

• Training in MPA management

• Community-based Monitoring

Providing Practical and Location Specific Assistance

Community-Based Live Fish Monitoring

CLIF Initial Results - 2013

Figure 1: The overall

mean biomass per trap

(kg) was higher inside

sanctuaries than outside

(t(331)=3.129, p=0.002).

Figure 2: Mean biomass per trap (kg) inside and

outside the sanctuaries

• Craft Programme

• Community-based tourism

• Offshore fishing - FADs

C-FISH Component 2

MSMEs and Alternative Livelihoods

Equipment for Offshore Fishing

C-FISH Component 2

Supporting Local Livelihoods with Private Sector Partnerships

Community Livelihoods

Craft Programme

Community-based tourism

Offshore fishing

ACCESS TO MARKETS

Sales of

Products and

Services

Facilitated

By Partners

Marine

Protected

Areas

C-FISH Component 2

MSMEs and Sustainable Financing for MPAs

C-FISH Component 3 The AQUACAM Research Programme

• Develop a cost effective underwater video

system for viewing and monitoring fish

populations

• Aquacam System will use Wi-Fi transmitter

to send stereo video stream to base station

where it can be uploaded to internet

C-FISH Component 4 Communication

Target audiences

– Policy-makers

– MPA managers and staff

– Private sector

– Project partners

– Donors

– Fishermen

– Law Enforcement

Personnel

– Scientific community

– General public

Methods of Communication

• Website

• Social Media

• Videos

• Newsletters

• Press Releases

• Face to face meetings

• Workshops

• Conferences - posters

• Aquacam…

C-FISH Component 4 Communication

It’s About Making It Happen

Science Policy Implementation

Financing Mechanisms - Ecosystem targets (MPAs, forests, fisheries), Carbon

targets (REDD+), Poverty/Development targets, Bio-Rights, PES, other

Enforcement - Political will, supporting laws and judiciary, resources for

management and monitoring capacity, culture of law enforcement

Community-based Management - Policies for co-management, linkages to

livelihoods, private sector partnerships, incentives, governance, awareness

- Social cohesion, local champions