Abstract

Fisheries management in Puerto Rico – Virgin Islands is in a state of flux. Despite historical overfishing, multiple new initiatives, including new regulatory regimes by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, suggest a sincere interest and hope in reversing stock declines. However, there exists no uniform context and direction to these initiatives, which results in lost efficiencies and opportunities. What is needed is a new vision for fisheries management that takes into consideration the local ecological and socio-economic characteristics of fishing, is compatible with regional resources and capacity, is ecosystem based, and targets full stakeholder participation. Only an ecosystem-based approach can lead fisheries management out of the trap of unrealistic data collection and analysis demands, while at the same time refocus emphasis away from attitudes and practices that promote overfishing. Management must be based on first principles regarding the desired state of the ecosystem and initiate strategies based on these principles. The key management goal is not to maximize fisheries catch, but to maintain the ecosystem in a state that will lead to sustained production. First principles would include maintaining ecosystem integrity and function, protecting all habitats and water quality, applying the precautionary approach and monitoring reference points, and recognizing limits of production. Resulting management tactics might include marine reserves (to meet multiple goals), closed spawning aggregations, gear restrictions to maintain trophic balance and habitats, targeted data collection and assessments, adopting co-management practices and using ecosystem or community-based metrics. Fisheries management must fully incorporate the tools, resources and methods available within coastal zone and other environmental agencies, while standards within those programs must protect ecosystem health. Implementation should (1) develop a common baseline/language among stakeholders, (2) develop needed management tools, (3) develop a common management framework, and (4) review and revise regulations.

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