Connections 18 May2004

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

At the White Water to Blue Water
Collaborating in Nicaragua with the
(WW2BW) Partnership Conference
University of Connecticut
Several CERMES existing and incoming faculty played
Under the Coastal Resources Co-management Project
key roles in the White Water to Blue Water Partnership
(CORECOMP), implemented by CERMES with funding
Conference that took place in Miami from 22-26 March.
from the Oak Foundation, Diana Payne and Robert
Co-Chair of Marine Ecosystem-based Management
Pomeroy from the Sea Grant Program of the University
Day, Dr. Robin Mahon, presented one of the three
of Connecticut recently assisted partners in Nicaragua.
keynote talks on the Caribbean Large Marine
Ecosystem Project. Another keynote talk was delivered
Diana Payne spent 4-6 March in Bluefields and Pearl
by Dr. Leonard Nurse who is the former Director of the
Lagoon working with teachers and community
local Coastal Zone Management Unit and Permanent
representatives on environmental education. With
Secretary in the ministry responsible for environment.
guidance from Bertha Simmons of the Coastal Area
Dr. Nurse will soon be joining the staff of CERMES.
Management Project (CAMP), an initiative of the Centre
Their talks were, respectively, on the features of the
for Research and Documentation of the Atlantic Coast
Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project and
(CIDCA) of the Central American University (UCA), the
governance relating to living marine resources in the
group discussed and revised curricula in environmental
region. Both presentations were very well received.
education that include collaboration in natural resource
governance. Sea Grant educational material, in English
On the same day there was a breakout session led by
and Spanish, was provided to assist capacity building.
Dr. Patrick McConney with Janice Cumberbatch from
CERMES and colleagues from the Caribbean
Dr. Robert Pomeroy facilitated a strategic planning
Conservation Association (CCA), Caribbean Natural
workshop from 27-28 March in Managua to assist the
Resources Institute (CANARI) and the US National
Fisheries Programme of the Universidad de las
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The
Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense
session was on the Socioeconomic aspects of marine
(URACCAN), a small university with campuses on the
ecosystems. It started with a presentation of initiatives
Caribbean coast of Nicaragua. Assisting him was
in the region, followed by group discussions that
URACCAN lecturer in fisheries, Karen Joseph, who had
focused on valuation and co-management.
just returned from the WW2BW conference along with
Bertha Simmons as part of the regional group for which

CERMES had secured sponsorship from US sources.
Also at the conference,
Janice Cumberbatch,
Fourth World Fisheries Congress
assisted by Leah Bunce
An estimated 1,500 fisheries scientists and managers
of NOAA and Manuel
from over 80 countries met in Vancouver, Canada from
Valdes Pizzini of the
2-6 May at the Fourth World Fisheries Congress. The
University of Puerto
theme of the congress was "Reconciling fisheries with
Rico, delivered a one-
conservation: the challenge of managing aquatic
day training session on
ecosystems". Leading fisheries specialists spoke of the
the Socioeconomic
worldwide depletion of fish stocks and how we can
monitoring guidelines
reverse these trends. Fisheries depletion and poverty
for coastal managers in the Caribbean (SocMon
were seen as closely linked in developing countries.
Caribbean). A dozen people from around the region
Increasing attention to sustainable livelihoods in coastal
attended, and some have requested further training.
communities was flagged as essential for rehabilitating
fisheries.
Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Wayne Hunte also
launched the UWI Coastal Management Research
Three scientists from CERMES took part in the
Network (COMARE Net) at the WW2BW conference.
conference: Dr. Robin Mahon, Dr Patrick McConney
COMARE Net was described in the last issue of
and Ms Neetha Selliah. Dr. McConney presented a
CERMES Connections. It was a busy week for all.
poster entitled "Contortions in the Co-management of

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Small-scale Fisheries in the Caribbean" and also spoke
The Tobago Cays Educational Forum was held as two,
on "Obtaining High Quality Data and Information for
one-day, sessions. The first session took place at
Management Decisions Through People-centred
Clifton Harbour, Union Island, and the second in
Processes". Dr. Mahon convened a session on coral
Kingstown, St. Vincent. The purpose of the forum was
reef fisheries comprising six speakers and ten posters.
twofold: to provide expert information to the general
He gave the lead talk in that session, on "Reconciling
public regarding the purposes and best management
the Needs of Fisheries and Conservation in Coral
practices of marine protected areas; and to provide an
Reefs". The scientists used the conference to network
opportunity for open public dialogue regarding the fate
with colleagues from around the world and to explore
of the TCMP.
opportunities for CERMES to collaborate in research.
The initiative was sparked by fear of the government
Other conference connections
accepting an offer by Palm Island Resort Ltd. to
Since mid-March CERMES has also been represented
manage the TCMP. Citizens felt that community
at the following important scientific conferences:
stakeholders might be dislocated and disenfranchised
by the management arrangement. A few days after the
OAS Sub-regional Dialogue on Integrated Water
forum, the resort company withdrew its proposal. This
Resources Management in the Caribbean and Meso-
paves the way for government and other stakeholders
America, Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, 4-5 March 2004 by
to devise new and effective alternative management,
Dr. Hazel Oxenford, Director of CERMES.
with a strong community perspective, for the TCMP.
IOC/IUCN/NOAA 6th Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)
CERMES graduate students will undertake a field trip to
Consultative Meeting at UNESCO, Paris, 29-30 March
the area as part of their coursework on biodiversity. The
2004 by Dr. Robin Mahon, Regional Project Coordinator
TCMP situation may be researched as a case study in
for the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project.
order to assess and document the lessons learned.
Eighth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-
[Adapted from the Caribbean Net News article of
Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions,
Friday, May 7, 2004 entitled "Resort company
SC-IOCARIBE-VIII in Recife, Brazil, 14 ­ 17 April 2004
withdraws marine park management proposal"
by Dr. Robin Mahon, Regional Project Coordinator for
caribbeannetnews.com]
the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project.
Report on the 2003 sea egg season
Friends of the Tobago Cays (Marine
An output of the Coastal Resources Co-management
Park) in the Grenadines
Project (CORECOMP) is a report on the 2003 sea egg
From 24 to 26 April, a group of concerned Vincentian
season. It was produced from project activities done in
citizens called Friends of the Tobago Cays, joined by an
collaboration with the Fisheries Division and the
alliance of Grenadines-based environmental groups,
Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations.
hosted an open public Tobago Cays Educational Forum
One of the key conclusions of the report was that there
that was hailed as a 'watershed event' in Caribbean
must be a new direction to attempts to establish co-
marine protection awareness.
management. The suggestion is for a council of
Grenadines NGOs
persons respected and experienced in the sea egg
included the Mayreau
industry. This council, with its members drawn from
Environmental
around the country, would advise the Fisheries Division
Development
on management measures for the fishery. Of particular
Organisation, the
interest would be the timing and duration of the open
Union Island Eco-
season. This may be implemented for the 2004 season.
Tourism Movement,
What is on the CERMES web site
the Union Island Water Taxi Association and the Union
Island Association for Ecological Protection.
The web site (www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermes) has a
wealth of information on CERMES teaching, research,
CERMES was invited to make presentations on the
other projects, outreach and activities. Applicants for
revenue generation potential of the Tobago Cays
the degree programme can read about the courses
Marine Park (TCMP) and on co-management. These
offered in the Coastal and Marine Management and the
were delivered by Dr. Hazel Oxenford and Dr. Patrick
Climate Change specialisation streams. Project reports,
McConney respectively. Dr. Robin Mahon, leader of the
guidelines and other documents are downloadable from
UWI's Sustainable Grenadines project, also attended.
the publications database. Some pages of the site are
He had been invited by the Friends of the Tobago Cays
still under construction, so bear with us for a while. We
to arrange for CERMES to provide public information.
hope that the site will be of service to you. Feel free to
Also at the forum were local, regional and international
give us some feedback on the site so that we can help
managers of marine protected areas (MPAs).
to meet your information needs.

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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