The balance between conservation objectives and the economic and social incentives in Caribbean marine managed areas

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1 The balance between conservation objectives and the economic and social incentives in Caribbean marine managed areas Three success stories Their killer apps, issues and challenges UNEP-Caribbean CaMPAM network and training program Dr. Georgina Bustamante CaMPAM coordinator MAIA International Workshop A Corunna, June, 2012

2 The Wider Caribbbean Region Continental nations 14. Belize 15. Colombia 16. Costa Rica 17. Guatemala 18. Guyana 19. Honduras 20. Mexico 21. Nicaragua 22. Panama 23. Surinam 24. USA 25. Venezuel a Island nations 1. Antigua & Barbuda 2. Bahamas 3. Barbados 4. Cuba 5. Dominica 6. Dominican Rep. 7. Grenada 8. Haiti 9. Jamaica 10.St. Kitts & Nevis 11.St. Lucia 12.St. Vincent and the Grenadines 13.Trinidad & Tobago EU and USA territories or depts. 26. Aruba 27. Dutch Caribbean 28. Anguilla 29. Cayman Islands 30. Monserrat 31. Turks & Caicos Islands 32. British Virgin Islands 33. French Guyana 34. Guadeloupe 35. St. Martin St. Barth 36. Martinique 37. Puerto Rico 38. US Virgin Islands

3 The Tropical NW Atlantic BiogeographIc Province or Wider Caribbean Region 6 ocean basis Complex connectivity patterns Semi-enclosed sea by continental mass and islands, banks, reefs One marine biogeographic region Similar history and culture, few languages. Fisheries and tourism: major environm. services, drive the economies of most islands, and the coastal communities of all countries. The Cartagena Convention and its protocols (SPAW, etc.): a regional environmental agreement

4 Burke and Maidens, 2004

5 The darker the green the better managed

6 Management effectiveness of 285 Caribbean MPAs With the growth of tourism, fisheries, and other development in coral reef areas, marine protected areas, MPAs are an important tool for safeguarding coral reefs. 6% of MPAs rated as good 13% are partially effective 48% are inadequate 33% with unknown level of managemen Burke and Maidens, 2004

7 Three Caribbean MPAs, 3 success stories Yucatán Sian Ka an BR, BR, Mexico Soufriere MMA, St. Lucia Hol Chan MR, Belize

8 Sian Ka an Biosphere Reserve: a community-based fishing/ecotourism management model

9 Sian Ka an MR Size: Very large Habitats: terrestrial (the jungle) marine (large reef areas and bays) Population: 4 fishing towns Fisheries: 6 fishing coops. Financing: supported by the government Uses : fishing (commercial and recreational; lodging;

10 Sian Ka an MR: killer apps Solid agreements with the community One, low-impact and highly manageable lobster fishing method: casitas cubanas (fishable artificial habitats ) in fishing plots Diversified economic alternatives (recreational fishing, nature tourism, lodging) Experience exchange among fishers and Fishing exclusive rights and communitybased fisheries management

11 Yucatán Lobster fishing lots Ascension Bay, Mexico Casitas cubanas Exclusive management rights granted by the Sian Ka an B.R. to the local community (Punta Allen fishing/ecotourism cooperatives)

12 Sian Ka an BR management issues Illegal fishing. Insufficient patrol Increasing tourism and investors using fishermen Conflicts between fishing cooperatives Holbox Mahahual Cancun Riviera Maya Cozumel Tulum Sian Ka an B.R.

13 Hol Chan MR management scheme Small and in the border with Mexico: 18km 2 of coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove, swamps. Multiuse zoning: recreation (regulated tourism), regulated fishing; no-take Self financed: user fees, high rate return from natl. fund.; regulations favorable to locals, etc. Designation: conflict resolution assisted by external expert scientist Part of a national network and a subnational (NE Belize network)

14 Hol Chan MR killer apps Sefl-financed: user fees thru tour guides & dive operators); Enforcement capability (MPA and fisheries regulations) Exclusive rights to local traditional fishers; Education and monitoring projects; Institutional arrangements with the Navy, NGOs, etc. and Board of Trustees with financial and advisory responsibilities Co-management scheme between the Committee and the Fisheries Dept.; Permitting program (for fishing, snorkeling, diving);

15 Hol Chan MR (Belize) conservation issues Designation: conflict resolution assisted by external expert scientist Development. (cruise ship invasion was stopped) Immigration. (border town) Reef decline: Global or local cause? Inadequate MPA size? network management needed? Larvae not secured? Hotels wastes?

16 Soufriere Marine Management Area Soufriere MMA Small, narrow, zoned Pelagic fishing Tourism: yachts, divers, day- boat visitors Surrounded by hotels Self financed by revenue generation (user fees) Institutional arrangements Pitons WHS

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18 SMMA killers apps Reduction in conflict among users (yatchers, fishers, divers) by zoning. Showed fast success: increasing fisheries catches around the no-take areas. Provided fair economic compensation for after some fishing methods were banned Generating alternative livelihoods by training fishermen

19 Challenges in all 3 MPAs: Illegal fishing Inadequate nearby development and hotel operation (pollution, hotel density, sedimentation) Inadequate spatial scale (connectivity?) Global impacts (coral bleaching, diseases, invasives) Fishermen prosperity (how come?) Inadequate use of power by board members, etc.

20 How to balance nature conservation with local social and economic interests No general recipe, be creative, involve community Social and economic context changes Permanent management adaptation and conflict resolution Continuous supervision by gov. agency Monitoring biophysical and socio-econ. Environmental services valued Value added product vs. more products Loans for low-impact micro-enterpriees Exchange w/peers within/beyond region

21 The UNEP-CEP MPA Network and Training Program (CaMPAM)

22 CaMPAM network and Program Started 1997 Training the trainers ( ) 10 regional courses, Spa. Eng. French and local follow-up courses > 1800 trained (MPA managers, stakeholders manual (8 modules) Small Grants Program (mainly exchange visits) CaMPAM List (e-forum); Regional MPA Database Coordinator, experts (Exec. Team) Cartagena Convention and SPAW Environmental agreement with a program

23 Small/mid grants Funded by UNEP-CEP, managed jointly by CaMPAM, SPAW-RAC, GCFI Exchange visits (MPA staff, fishers, etc.) to disseminate best practices $ ,000 Call 1-2 times/yr (dep. on funding) Within the Caribbean With other regions

24 Training of trainers and exchanges R- Regional courses L- Local follow-up training activities MPA and fishers exchanges

25 CaMPAM expands its program by building partnerships Funding from governments (Sweden, Spain, Italy, USA, France) and foundations Partnerships with local and international orgs. The Caribbean Challenge initiative ( ) With other networks? MedPAN and MAIA

26 Thanks to MAIA the workshop organizing committee, and Inma Alvarez for the invitation Georgina Bustamante CaMPAM coordinator