Abstract

Fisheries are an important source of food, income and cultural identity for many Caribbean coastal communities. While reef fisheries resources in the Caribbean are frequently overexploited, pelagic resources may generate alternative economic benefits to coastal communities and possibly divert pressure from reef fish resources. The key to the efficient harvesting of thinly-distributed pelagic fishery resources is the use of fish aggregation devices (FADs) – man-made structures that float on or just below the surface of the ocean and attract pelagic fish. Historically, FADs were deployed by individual fishers or close-knit groups who then managed exploitation of the aggregated fisheries resources. More recently, governments and other organizations have deployed larger arrays of public FADs that are not associated with exclusive use rights in an attempt to make the technology more widely available. Public FADs may, however, be exploited less efficiently and also give rise to new conflicts related to crowding, misuse and possibly overfishing. This project partnered Counterpart International, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, Florida Sea Grant, and the Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines Fisheries Divisions to implement a participatory engagement strategy to strengthen cooperation among fishers and between fishers and government stakeholders. The aim was to enhance local outreach capabilities and offer recommendations that can assist the efforts of Caribbean governments to support co-management of their developing FAD fisheries.

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