Abstract

Artisanal fishing has always been an important source of employment for Caribbean coastal communities. However, reduction in profitability of fishing due to pollution, over-fishing, as well as introduction of Marine Protected Areas have forced many fishers out of the sector. Attempts to engage fishers in alternative livelihoods are often unsucess-ful primarily because of a lack of understanding of socioeconomic drivers as well as level of interest in a particular suite of supplementary livelihood strategies. The Caribbean fish sanctuary partnership initiative (CFISH) currently supports several fish sanctuaries or marine protected areas in the Caribbean Region. Here we present a possible model for continued engagement of fishers of the Eastern Caribbean in MPA related governance as well as a better understanding of alternative or supplementary livelihood opportunities of interest prior to interventions to support these activities. Baseline data was collected through structured and open-ended interviews with randomly selected fishers after an island wide census of fishers was done in Carriacou. This was followed by a 1-day stakeholder consultation workshop. A total number of 68 full time and part time fishers were identified. A total of 40 fishers were interviewed using the C-FISH socio-economic and preliminary livelihood assessment survey forms. The survey results were validated during a one-day workshop. In both processes fish aggregating devices (FADS) and fish marketing was rated as the first priority alternative/ supplementary livelihood option for future funding considerations. Sea Moss farming was rated as the sec-ond priority and eco–tourism tours as third priority alternative/ supplementary livelihood option.

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