Abstract

Laguna de Oviedo is the biggest hyper-salty lagoon in the Jaragua National Park in the southwest part of Dominican Republic with 27km2 of total area. It is considered an esential habitat for the maintenance of the biodiversity of the region due to it's flora and fauna particularities. In the lagoon there exists an introduced population of tilapia (Oreochromis sp) which is the basis of the subsistence fishery developed for the local fishermen.\Until 1993, The Grupo Jaragua, Inc, non-profit institution, together with National Park Direction and with the sponsor of the Swiss Asociation for the Development and Cooperation (HEL VETAS), developed different projects of integration of the park users in order to manage it. Five years of fishery activities registration in Laguna de Oviedo, together with Propescar-Sur project, reflects a disorganization and over-fishing of the resource in detrimental to it's users. In order to make the fishery in Laguna de Oviedo a sustainable acti vity, a fisheries program has been designed and the next actions were proposed:\i) Moni1Oring and research:\-Training of local voluntaries.\-Experiments with new fisheries arts.\ii) Co-management and Development:\-Structuration of Co-management committee -Construction of infrastructure to sell the fisheries producto iii) Education and technical counsellorship -Users training in alternatives economics activities.\iv) Regulations No more licensing for foreign fishermen or boats either, in the lagoon.\The program design was made in consensus with every part involved, especially with the local users. Many of the proposals of the program are in the process of completion while others have already been developed.

PDF Preview