April 4th, 2016 -- St Kitts and Nevis was visited by the Coordinator of the Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management – Eastern Caribbean Marine Managed Areas Network Small Grant Programme (CaMPAM-ECMMAN Small Grant), Dr Georgina Bustamante to review and advise on the implementation of the ECMMAN projects activities.
Dr Bustamante’s visit on the island was hosted by ECMMAN In –Country Project Co-ordinator, Mrs Janice D. Hodge, Executive Director of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS), Mrs Evelyn Henville, ECMMAN Project Education Compliance Officer, Mr Dameon Lawrence and the Outreach Coordinator, Ms. Danielle Moore.
In the early months of the ECMMAN project, Dr Bustamante was optimistic that marine Protected Areas would soon be legalized. She said political will exists. Recently, the St. Kitts and Nevis Federal Parliament passed the Fisheries Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act 2016 on January 26th, 2016. With this progress, the Coordinator is hopeful that the Narrows Marine Reserve will be gazetted as a marine Protected Area following the passage of the recent act.
“We are very happy in what is happening here because St. Kitts and Nevis is the only country that does not have designated marine protected areas. The country is behind,” she said; as other countries participating in the ECMMAN project already have established Marine Protected Areas.
Studies conducted six years ago by the Nature Conservancy (TNC) scientists and local stakeholder consultations that developed a marine zoning plan that helped identify uses within a two mile radius around St. Kitts and Nevis. Included in the study was a marine zoning plan which delineated an area in the Narrows as being a home for juvenile fish, conch and lobsters. The coordinator said the Government and stakeholders are arranging together a management for The Narrows.
“To the west of Booby Island within The Narrows will be the general area for a marine reserve while the eastern side be a fishing priority area,” she noted, adding that persons whose livelihoods will be affected will be guided to seek alternative livelihoods.
The Coordinator said Governments in all the six countries where the project is being implemented are the implementing agencies while the NGOs serve as lead agencies. “The Government endorsed all proposals. The implementing agencies have capacities like technical expertise – that the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) may not have,” she said.
Dr. Bustamante said countries must accelerate their efforts. “Climate Change is impacting coral reefs. We cannot wait until temperatures are lowered globally. If we do, our resources will be depleted.” She said grassroots communities are involved in the initiative as well, “It is important for the fisherfolk to be involved.” The Caribbean National Fisherfolk organisations are on board in all countries
Dr. Bustamante said “Protected Areas” management has been piloted elsewhere in the Caribbean. She cited Jamaica where the fisherfolk are the co-managers of the marine “Protected Areas” in Jamaica. “The fisherfolk manage with funding from different sources because organisations like their model. There are ways in which fisherfolk can be involved directly and indirectly.
The ECMMAN project is aimed at creating new Marine Managed Areas (MMAs) and establishing new ones within the six OECS islands within a four year period, 2013 to 2017. Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), each participating island is allowed up to 155,950 euros to aid in establishing the Marine Managed Areas.
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