Abstract

No-take zones implementation has started in Martinique in 1999. Eight areas protected from artisanal fisheries have been created until late 2005. Political decision was taken together with the local Regional Fishery Committee and Fishermen associations, the Regional Council and the Maritime Administration. No-take zones were created to allow build-up of fish stocks over 3 years and were to be reopened after the fishery closure. In the end, most of them were maintained closed to fishery for an another 3 years period. One survey was conducted over 3 of the 8 sites between March 2004 and April 2006 using visual census methods for fish population characterisation. Only recently (end 2006) a protocol was developed to assess the efficacy of 2 of the no-take zones based on experimental fisheries (Caribbean and Atlantic). While scientific information was being collected, decision to reopen one no-take zone for 6 months was first taken in April 2006. In 2007, lobby from the Regional Fishery Committee led to the reopening of 5 of the no-take zones. We discuss the efficacy of the policy developed in Martinique for coastal marine resources management in the absence of a scientific and social survey program and the objectives of a global framework for no-take zones development based on a scientific approach.

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