Abstract

In the Caribbean and around the world, human use of the coastal and marine environment is placing increasing and often conflicting demands on natural resources. Marine spatial planning (MSP) has emerged globally as a strategic approach to improve decision-making and deliver an ecosystem approach to coastal and marine management. Due to a diversity of factors including the financial, technical, and human resources required for MSP, its application has been less prominent in small island developing states (SIDS) than in developed countries. In light of resource limitations, the participation of stakeholders in the creation of MSP information, including representation of spatial knowledge, can allow for the production of useful information and support understanding of the linkages between marine resources and livelihoods required for an ecosystem approach. Approximately 80 kilometers southwest of Jamaica, the Pedro Bank is one of the largest offshore banks in the Caribbean, comprises a tremendous amount of biodiversity as well as the country's most productive commercial and artisanal fishing grounds. Recently oil exploration is being undertaken on the Pedro Bank, and transportation and fishing pressure are steadily increasing. As a result of the growing demand for resources, the creation of a marine multi-use zoning design is being developed to improve Jamaica‘s capacity to protect, manage, and sustainably use the Bank’s marine resources. Here we describe the various types of information required for MSP and methods applied to develop ecosystem-based information for the Pedro Bank within a Caribbean SIDS context.

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