Michelle T. Schärer-Umpierre

Connecting Humans and Ecosystems in Tropical Fisheries: Social Sciences and the Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

The current state of the biodiversity and ecosystems of the Caribbean is a complex predicament developed from the historical interactions of human populations. Resource and ecosystem conservation requires an understanding of the human and natural dimensions of the problems and a research and conservation strategy that unifies both experiences. We believe that the current emphasis on ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) approaches—among the fisheries management community—present the greatest opportunity to achieve this. EBFM aims to protect the structure and quality of habitats, maintaining ecosystem integrity and function, with a precautionary approach, and recognizes “limits to production” and seeks to “control rates of extraction.” On a theoretical level, the EBFM must operate under the social-ecological system framework (“a coupled human-environment system”). Much is said about the need to incorporate the social sciences into EBFM strategies, and lip service is paid to the importance of the human dimension, but in reality, that is seldom achieved, if ever. Furthermore, there are no specific plans or models to approach this human dimension in principled, formal ways. This paper discusses the current use of EBFM in the Caribbean and presents a handful of recommendations to make it work.

Marine Managed Areas and Associated Fisheries in the US Caribbean

The marine managed areas (MMAs) of the U.S. Caribbean are summarized and specific data-rich cases are examined to determine their impact upon fisheries management in the region. In this region, the productivity and connectivity of benthic habitats such as mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs is essential for many species targeted by fisheries. A minority of the 39 MMAs covering over 4000km(2) serve any detectable management or conservation function due to deficiencies in the design, objectives, compliance or enforcement. Fifty percent of the area within MMA boundaries had no-take regulations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, while Puerto Rico only had 3%. Six case studies are compared and contrasted to better understand the potential of these MMAs for fisheries management. Signs of success were associated with including sufficient areas of essential fish habitat (nursery, spawning and migration corridors), year-round no-take regulations, enforcement and isolation. These criteria have been identified as important in the conservation of marine resources, but little has been done to modify the way MMAs are designated and implemented in the region. Site-specific monitoring to measure the effects of these MMAs is needed to demonstrate the benefits to fisheries and gain local support for a greater use as a fisheries management tool.