Abstract

The importance of effectively engaging local stakeholders in the management of their natural resources is well established (Ostrom, 1990). This approach encourages benefits such as community buy in, increased compliance, alternative livelihood opportunities, understanding and awareness inter alia. Considering these benefits, the Caribbe-an Fish Sanctuary Partnership (C-FISH) Initiative has embedded community- based and participatory approaches to research in its 4-year fisheries support programme. Each of the seven Jamaican fish sanctuaries partnered with the C-FISH Initiative have had community members and sanctuary stakeholders trained in data collection. Each sanctuary conducts a catch and release fish monitoring (Community-based live fish Monitoring or ?CLIF‘) semi-annually (approximately 140 fish traps drawn every round) recording fish biomass data for inside and outside sanctuary boundaries. The communities are also responsible for administering socio-economic surveys annually. To date, the sanctuaries have satisfactorily provided combined data for 16 rounds of CLIF data, and 8 rounds of socio- economic data. This data is analysed by The CARIBSAVE Partnership and presented to the communities. Preliminary results have shown that coastal communities can be effective participants in fisheries research and monitoring programmes, and that using this approach to marine science creates opportunities for increased income, but also spin-off successes through greater sense of ownership, improved capacity for time bound and robust data collection in conjunction with use of digital equipment (GPS, cameras, scales) and increased awareness on fisheries management issues.

PDF Preview