Abstract

As resources continue to decline throughout the Caribbean due to numerous factors, such as exploitation and development, scientists and managers have looked for more successful management strategies to maintain and/or improve resources. One strategy which has become increasingly popular is the establishment of marine parks and reserves. This strategy has great potential for sustaining or improving the condition of resources in terms of abundance of exploited resources, species composition, and biodiversity. Proper design, statement of goals, and management are critical for success. Several problems and difficulties have been identified during evaluation of resources in Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands. We have documented declines of resources due to regulated exploitation, investigated effects of trap fishing on resources of a reef, and identified some factors which are critical for consideration in design of marine park and reserves.

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