Connections 24 March2005

An electronic bulletin about interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach at the
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES)
Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus

Over the past two months CERMES has participated in
a supporter of environmental causes here, including the
a number of regional and international meetings. We
efforts of Dr. Colin Hudson at the Future Centre and
have also received funds in our quest for scholarships
Treading Lightly. CERMES Director, Dr. Robin Mahon,
to be awarded to students in the names of persons who
and Lecturer Janice Cumberbatch gladly accepted the
have contributed prominently to resource management
contribution from Mr. Mennekes.
locally and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Increasing the

output and availability of our publications, including the
CERMES has initiated
Connections is another aim that received attention.
three scholarships in the

memory of three
Working at the CarWASSH
Barbadians who have
CERMES has now officially joined the CarWASSH
made a significant
(Caribbean Water Assessment Snap Shot) initiative of
contribution to aspects of
the Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida
the environment and
International University, as a collaborator. The initiative
sustainable development
is to establish a wider Caribbean, long-term, marine
here. The other two are
water quality monitoring network. In the initial pilot
Sir Harold St. John and
phase a single set of water samples will be collected by
Prof. Oliver Headley. There will be an official launch of
20-30 collaborating institutions from the region for
the three scholarships in the near future. Anyone
analysis of nutrients (nitrite, nitrate, phosphate etc.)
wishing to contribute to any of these scholarships, or to
which have implications for the health of critical marine
find out more about them, should contact CERMES at
ecosystems such as seagrass communities and reefs.
(246) 417-4316.


Principal at launch of our web site
Fisheries Biology and Management
The CERMES web site (www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermes)
CERMES marine resource management students got
had its official launch with the Principal of the Cave Hill
hands-on experience of
Campus, Prof. Hilary Beckles, in attendance. Also there
catching, measuring
was Dean of the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences,
and releasing over 300
Prof. Leo Moseley, and CERMES faculty. During the
reef fishes with the
tour of the web site several innovative ideas for further
assistance of fisher
developing the campus and CERMES were shared.
Stanton Thomas, as

part of their graduate
Eminent coral reef scientist visits
specialisation course in
Fisheries Biology and
Dr. Robert Ginsburg of the Rosenstiel School of Marine
Management. Many of the courses include field trips in
and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), University of
order to provide very practical learning opportunities.
Miami, visited CERMES from 17-18 Feb. to plan an

Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA)
Co-management teaching materials
coral reef monitoring training workshop for the eastern
Caribbean. Whilst here he shared with us many of his
CERMES is a participant in the regional project on
experiences as a marine geologist of many decades
"Institutional Arrangements for Coastal Management in
and gave an informal presentation introducing the
the Caribbean" being implemented by the Caribbean
AGRRA programme at our 'brown bag' lunch session.
Conservation Association (CCA), Caribbean Natural

Resources Institute (CANARI) and Marine Resources
CERMES Colin Hudson Scholarship
Assessment Group (MRAG). The project is funded by
the UK Department for International Development
On the anniversary of the death of Dr. Colin Hudson,
(DFID) Natural Resources Systems Programme
CERMES enhanced the Colin Hudson Scholarship with
(NRSP). One of the project objectives is to promote the
a donation from Mr. Dieter Mennekes. Mr. Mennekes,
use of teaching materials on coastal resource co-
who has been visiting Barbados for 24 years, has been

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management. To this end Dr. Patrick McConney met
The Vice-Rector (Principal) of the Bluefields campus
with lecturing colleagues at the Mona and St. Augustine
opened the workshop, and participants enjoyed the
campuses to present a wide array of teaching materials
many small group assignments (see photos).
that already exist or are being developed under the

project. The materials received enthusiastic reception.
In Belize the Wildlife Conservation Society organized a
The next step is to put them to the test in teaching. If
workshop on co-management for the Glover's Reef
you want to obtain the materials contact Dr. McConney
Advisory Committee. It was delivered by Dr. McConney
at nrmoutreach@caribsurf.com or download them from
and committee members included representatives from
the CCA web site www.ccanet.net.
the fishing and tourism industries, town council, coastal

and fisheries management authorities and NGOs. Like
Presentation at Symposium on
the Nicaragua workshop,
Adaptive Co-management
the co-management
materials prepared for
From 4-5 February, Dr. Patrick McConney braved the
lecturing and training
Canadian cold to present a paper at a symposium on
were tested as part of an
adaptive co-management entitled "Moving Beyond the
outreach initiative.
Critiques of Co-management: Theory and Practice of
Again, the materials
Adaptive Co-Management". The event was held at the
were well received and
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario.
the workshop organizer,

Janet Gibson of WCS, indicated that such training may
A paper on "Coping with complexity and uncertainty in
be useful for other MPA advisory committees in Belize.
coastal resource co-management in the Caribbean" by

Patrick McConney , Robin Mahon and Robert Pomeroy
Managing large pelagic fisheries
was presented to colleagues who work on the cutting
edge of co-management research and theorizing.
Hot off the presses in Rome is

FAO Fisheries Technical Paper
Among the participants
464 on "Management of large
were Dr. Brian Davy of the
pelagic fisheries in CARICOM
International Development
countries". Eight regional and
Research Centre (IDRC) of
international fisheries experts
Canada, and Dr. Robert
contribute to this volume that is
Pomeroy, a researcher in
edited by Dr. Robin Mahon and
the CERMES Coastal
Dr. Patrick McConney, both of
Resources Co-management
CERMES. The 149 page book
Project (CORECOMP).
compiles the outputs of an FAO

project that was completed in
Workshops in Nicaragua and Belize
2003. The project involved all
of the authors and many regional fisheries authorities in
implemented under CORECOMP
an effort to strategically examine what implications the
Fisheries lecturer Karen Joseph of Universidad de las
international management of tunas, billfishes, swordfish
Regiones Autonomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaraguense
and other large pelagics has for CARICOM countries. It
(URACCAN) conducted a workshop for over 20 people
is a critical area of fisheries management since these
from several communities in the Pearl Lagoon basin of
fishes may provide opportunities for export and foreign
Nicaragua from 14-18 March. The workshop focused on
exchange earnings if their harvest is sustainable.
fisheries resource co-management and the Code of

Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Men and women
Trade and fisheries officials meet to
who fish, the fisheries officer for the basin and leaders
discuss issues in WTO negotiations
of various communities were among the participants.

Senior Caribbean trade and fisheries officials met in
Barbados from 21-22 March to discuss issues in WTO
and EPA negotiations. A presentation on regional
fisheries and their management was made by Director
of CERMES, Dr. Robin Mahon. Dr. Hazel Oxenford,
Senior Lecturer in fisheries participated throughout. The
meeting was organized by the Caribbean Regional
Negotiating Mechanism, Commonwealth Secretariat
and Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism. The hot

issues of subsidies and technical barriers to trade got a
lot of attention from the participants.

CERMES Phone (246)-417-4316; Fax (246)-424-4204; cermes@uwichill.edu.bb; www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermes
Mailing address: CERMES, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, St. Michael, Barbados

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