Abstract

Many Caribbean countries are faced with the challenge of managing complex fisheries against the backdrop of seemingly inadequate human and financial resources. This has often led to frustrated resource managers and ineffective management. Perhaps we need to review our approach to fisheries management in the region and adopt an approach which can allow us to be more effective, in spite of our human resource and financial constraints. It is being suggested:\i) That it is important to build a strong team (team building should start with the local fisheries division and branch out to encompass the fishermen, other resource users, and the regional team players);\ii) Pay more attention to improving synergy among resource managers (this has the potential to significantly improve effectiveness);\iii) Fully utilise local knowledge of the resource;\iv) Change the structure of the fisheries division to reflect the social importance of the fishing industry,\v) Tailor make fisheries training to the needs of the local fisheries division, build in flexibility to allow for responsiveness to change;\vi) Utilize simple yet effective tools such as public awareness campaigns).\It has been said that we manage people, not fish. Perhaps if we place the spotlight on the human factor, we may discover that we have the tools, which we need after all.

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