Abstract

Since 2002 the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) of the University of the West Indies has been engaged in projects investigating the co-management of coastal resources in the Caribbean. The three countries most involved in the latest research were Barbados, Belize and Nicaragua. Special attention was paid to marine protected areas and small-scale fisheries. Research was done in partnership with community-based groups, non-governmental organisations and government agencies. Results and preliminary findings were presented at previous meetings of the Institute. In this paper the research alliance provides its conclusions and outlook in the context of reforming governance. The main themes addressed are strategic planning, capacity building, stakeholders and power, organising and leadership, and the role of government. Co-management is still a relatively new and not fully understood approach to marine resource governance in the Caribbean. Stakeholders may gain a clearer, shared understanding of co-management through participatory strategic planning. However, critical issues are the inadequate capacities of most stakeholders, and disparities in their power. Improving organising and leadership are key components in building capacity. Governments have roles to play in enhancing conditions that favour successful co-management, even though their management authorities are often weak and unable to effectively guide the establishment of co-management. While we encourage future co-management initiatives, especially practical pilot projects, it is not clear that stakeholders are currently able to cope with this approach to marine resource governance. Emphasis must first be placed on addressing deficiencies in the general areas above and site-specific circumstances. Enabling policies for self-organisation and adaptive management are urgently required especially if marine resource governance is approached from a complex adaptive social-ecological systems perspective

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