Abstract

Community acceptance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is key for MPA Managers to gain full support from stake-holders and facilitate effective management. The Gouyave Fishermen Cooperative Society Ltd. in collaboration with the Grenada Community Development Agency and the Fisheries Division designed and implemented a Fishers-led Awareness Campaign to promote the establishment of a MPA in Gouyave, the fishing capital of Grenada. The initiative was designed to ensure that stakeholders have a clear understanding of the process and their involvement in managing the marine re-sources. The campaign slogan, “Our Fish, Our Future: Conservation in Local Hands” was used to develop awareness mate-rials which were distributed during door-to-door interviews, and general interaction with fishers and community members in Gouyave and other coastal communities within the parishes of St. John and St. Mark. The initial focal thrust was an ag-gressive drive to educate the bona fide fisherfolks, including, hook & line fishers, spear fishers (divers), seine operators and people who use the reef as a safe haven for anchorage of boats. A team of 12 persons participated in a one-day workshop on MPAs and the ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ of public outreach activities before taking the campaign to the streets and visiting over 800 homes. Prior to the campaign the awareness regarding MPAs in Gouyave was very limited. The team encountered some negative feedback from a few fishers; however, with continued education on the benefits of MPAs and the positive impact they can have on fishers’ livelihood, the team was able to change their perceptions. The most important results of the cam-paign were the general acceptance of the MPA in Gouyave and the willingness of the community including fishers and youths to actively participate in the establishment of the Gouyave MPA.

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