The MPA Name. The past and future of the. Montego Bay Marine Park Trust

Transcription

1 The MPA Name The past and future of the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust

2 Park Boundaries and Sanctuary Area 100m/330ft/50 Fathom Depth Contour to The Average Highest High Tide Mark 50 Fathom/100M Depth Great River Point Bogue Lagoon Fish Sanctuary Tropical Beach

3 History of Park Management 1990: Divers recognized a decrease in fish to the point that the industry was suffering and began working for a protected area 1992: the National Parks Act declared the Montego Bay Marine Park protected area, to be managed by the Planning Institute 1996: Local management was delegated to the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust under a comanagement agreement with the Government of Jamaica

4 How the Trust Operates Delegation For 2007/8: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NEPA Formally appoints the Trust as local manager of the Park in a Co- Management agreement Provides basic funding for management and enforcement Reviewed and renewed annually Further Funding of 07: Private local donors National Parks Trust Fund A portion of Park area beach fees Local donor agencies Project grants, sponsors and partners Memberships and private support

5 Park Problems and Challenges Overfishing/Overharvest: Solid Waste: Sewage: Sewage Treatment: Coastal Development: Public Education: Tourism facilitation: Environmental/Scientific monitoring: Oil and chemical pollution: Hillside agriculture: Hillside construction: Sustainable development: Wildlife monitoring and rescue: Anchor damage: Deforestation: Laws and politics:.

6 For 2007/8: - We chose the one problem with the biggest bang for the buck, a fisheries management initiative coined: -GROW FISH- : as improved fish populations lead directly into the pockets of Montegonians through improved tourism and catches.

7 Ground-Programmes 1992: PIOJ s aggressive enforcement without education lead to chronic conflict but improved stocks 1996: Interpretive Enforcement was adopted with Trust takeover : Academic sociological research of the local Fisher Communities provided insight and built trust. 1998: The Trust performed the fisherman s sensitization programme. 2005: Fishers Permitting Programme: issued Park permits to every fisherman working in the Bay who completed training in ecology and regulations

8 -GROW FISH- Work: -Repeat the 05 permitting project -Place signs -Rigorous enforcement (Military Police) -Setting of new no-fishing zone at high-value area (Will be done with the fisher folks) Outcomes: More fish, bigger fish, more kinds of fish Improved general tourism product and more diverse tourism opportunities More productive fishery outside of zone(s) and Park Return of high-value SCUBA industry

9 Expected Outcome: 3-fold improvement in fish populations -size, number and species diversitywithin 18 months. Montego Bay regains its world-class SCUBA diving product and status in two years. - Fisher catches and incomes improved outside the protected area.

10 Setting the Stage: Rebuilding work of 2007: - Renewal of NEPA delegation including base-funding - Sourcing and hiring more staff - Effective, visible enforcement - Fisher sensitization and re-building communications/trust - Equipping, empowering and partnerships for enforcement

11 Into 08 Managing the Fishery: - Regulation compliance - No-Fishing zones - Fisher re-employment - Academic monitoring and reporting And Selling Our New Fish - Valuation of living fish through tourism - Facilitation and enhancement of Eco-friendly tourism - Fisher re-employment

12 Tourism- our vision The Park s core contribution is a Bay full of beautiful marine life on healthy and vibrant coral reefs. We will be working in: Branding of Montego Bay/the Park as a beautiful, user-friendly Eco-destination. Working with private and public stakeholders for responsible MoBay development Developing sustainable attractions combining the coastal and inland, natural and cultural aspects of the area.

13 Tourism Development -Partnership Guidelines To provide: 1. Formal Use and Control of Space 2. Fisher Employment 3. Park Trust income 4. Minimal environmental impact, maximum greenness

14 Example Projects Park s Website Fish-Food Bogue Lagoon Eco-tour MBJ Docks at Kent Ave. MoBay Water-Taxi Howard Cooke Blvd Park Sea-Turtle Restoration Park Technical SCUBA diving product Branching Coral Restoration Public Boating Dock Mariculture

15 Seeking Partners and Volunteers for 08/ 09/ 10 - Decorative Signs - Vigilance,Reporting and Enforcement - Reef and Environmental Monitoring - Marine Rescue Team - Dive Club: photography and videography - Mooring Maintenance - Website Inputs/Contributions - Coral and Mangrove Restoration - Beach Clean-Ups - Turtle Watches - Gloucester Ave Bluing Painting...

16 Designation Type Bouge Lagoon - Fisheries Sanctuary Montego Bay - Marine Park Law/Agreement Bouge lagoon Fisheries Industry Act National Resources Conservation Act Montego Bay Marine Park Fisheries Industry Act National Resources Conservation Act

17 Admin Organization For the Bouge Lagoon Fishing Industry Act, Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act For the Montego Bay Marine Park NEPA & MBMPT

18 Budget & Staffing Annual budget needed (USD) $300,000 Annual budget available (USD) $100,000 Sources of funding (organization & amount) Government & other donors Number of Staff (Permanent) 4

19 Coral Reef x Habitat Bouge Lagoon Seagrass Mangrove Estuary Lagoon Spawning/bre eding area Beach Rock Gravel Sand Mud x x x x x x x Pelagic

20 Habitat Montego Bay Marine Park Coral Reef Seagrass Mangrove Estuary Lagoon Spawning/bre eding area Beach Rock Gravel Sand Mud Pelagic x x x x x x x x x x

21 Species Bouge Lagoon Key Species red mangroves, conch, crabs, snapper and parrot fish Invasive Species Mostly Terrestrial: Willow, Coconut (Cocus nusiferus) and Mongoose

22 Montego Marine Park Key Species Mangroves, corals, black sea urchin, parrot fish Invasive Species Mooring Sponges and Algae

23 Summary Research Quality Testing (water and fish stock and type) Education (Solid and Liquid waste) Money Generation (User fees system)

24 MPA URL Contact Person Omar Ebanks Contact Contact number Fax Thank you