Connections 4 August2005

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

This is the period of summer slow down at CERMES.
Caring for our coasts and our future
Taught courses are finished for the year and students
are doing their research around the region. Whether the
-- a workshop for dive operators
student is hosted by an organisation in an internship, is
CERMES, Counterpart Caribbean and the Barbados
directly under the supervision of CERMES faculty, or is
Marine Trust (BMT) offered a two-day workshop on
being supervised by an associate of CERMES, the
"Caring for our Coasts and Our Future" on 27 June at
emphasis is on the student experiencing meaningful
CERMES and 4 July at Underwater Barbados for local
research. The time allocated is limited (only 3 months
dive operators. Senior Lecturer, Dr. Hazel Oxenford,
including write-up), but much can be accomplished in
and technicians Renata Goodridge and Kim Baldwin of
this period to prepare a person for the worlds of work or
CERMES were among the key organisers and resource
further academic excellence. As students complete their
persons. The participants (below) were enthusiastic.
research we will share some of their findings with you.


Using demographic information on
coastal fishing communities
Dr. Patrick McConney attended the CRFM / FAO /
MALMR Regional Workshop on the Collection of
Demographic Information on Coastal Fishing
Communities and Its Use in Community Based
Fisheries and Integrated Coastal Zone Management in
the Caribbean in Trinidad and Tobago from June 13th ­
17th 2005. He made a presentation on "Aspects of
CERMES regional research and training with emphasis
on socioeconomic and demographic information". This
informed participants about the SocMon Caribbean
methods and coastal co-management guidelines. Visit
the CERMES web site to download your copies today.



Visitor from the Pacific
An overview of Counterpart Caribbean 4C's (Caribbean
Coastal Co-management and Coral Regeneration)
Masanami Izumi, of the FAO Sub-Regional Office for
programme was given by Susan Mahon. The 4C's
the Pacific Islands based in Apia, Samoa, paid a
programme is funded by the European Commission.
courtesy call on 20 June during a brief familiarisation
Other topics included the WiSe (Wildlife Safe)
visit to the Caribbean. He discussed various avenues
accreditation scheme for boat operators; coral reef
for cooperation between academic centres and fisheries
ecology; coral diseases; diver interactions with marine
authorities in the Caribbean and Pacific. It was agreed
biota and good practices. There was much lively
that exchanges of personnel and information between
discussion. Participants learned and interacted with
the two regions should result in many mutual benefits,
each other while designing an accreditation scheme
and that the assistance of international donors should
that should encourage dive operators to distinguish
be pursued to facilitate such South-South interaction.
themselves by good practices in the market place.


Administrative staff on training
Participants worked on establishing a communications
Ms Bibi Selman, our departmental secretary, attended a
network which should help both their businesses and
human resource development training workshop on
our coastal environment to thrive. The dive operators
"Achieving Personal Excellence" on 16-17June, 2005.
agreed that an accreditation scheme that recognises
Participation in the course was sponsored by the UWI.
good boating and diving practises must be implemented
in Barbados. It could piggy-back on the existing UK
WiSe scheme. WiSe has offered, through Barbadian

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Larry Williams, to support efforts to adapt and
SocMon Caribbean now in Spanish
customise the scheme to the Barbados situation and
The first Spanish-speaking Socioeconomic Monitoring
adopt a name to indicate this, such as "Caribbean
Training Workshop for Coastal Managers was held in
WiSe". Participants agreed on the types of things that
Tela, Honduras, from 25-29 July. It was hosted by the
they would like to see in such a scheme and it was
University of Zamorano. The workshop was linked to
agreed that the Barbados Marine Trust would lead the
the SocMon Caribbean programme for the English-
next step in the process of turning words to action.
speaking Caribbean lead by Dr Patrick McConney of

CERMES. The SocMon Caribbean Guidelines, which
Man and the Biosphere workshop
are now available in Spanish, provided the basis for the
Dr. Hazel Oxenford was an invited participant at
workshop which:
UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) workshop
· trained participants in the socioeconomic monitoring
held in May Pen, Jamaica, 8-10 June. She was
process, variables and methods;
Barbados' representative in place of Dr. Julia Horrocks
· provided field experience to practice the SocMon
(MAB focal person for Barbados) who was unable to
methodologies; and
attend. The workshop, attended mainly by Jamaican
· resulted in the development of socioeconomic
government and environmental NGO personnel, plus
monitoring work plans for participants to initiate
country representatives from Dominica, Trinidad and
socioeconomic monitoring at their sites.
Tobago and Barbados, was intended to further inform

participants about the MAB programme.

Tsunami workshop held in Mexico
In particular, the experiences of other Caribbean
Dr. Leonard Nurse participated in the International
countries in designating MAB Reserves were
Conference for the Development of a Tsunami and
highlighted. The example used was Colombia's Sea
Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean
Flower Biosphere Reserve established over the entire
Sea and Adjacent Regions from 1-3 June, Mexico City,
San Andres Archipelago. Participants also heard of
Mexico. It was agreed to establish an Intergovernmental
Dominica's intentions to apply for Biosphere Reserve
Coordination Group (ICG) for the Tsunami and other
status in the near future. Participants were
Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean
encouraged to consider forming a Regional MAB
and Adjacent Regions. The Terms of Reference are at
Committee and Network to further the process of
ioc.unesco.org/indotsunami/IOC23/resolution13.htm.
identifying and working with potential Biosphere
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
Reserve sites. Trinidad and Tobago was asked to host
(IOC) shall provide the Secretariat of the ICG.
the next Caribbean MAB workshop.


GEF International Waters Conference
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) hosted its Third
Biennial International Waters Conference from 20-25
June in Salvador, Bahia Brazil. The primary objective of
the conference was to foster knowledge sharing and
collaboration between participating governments, GEF
International Waters projects, GEF Implementing and
Executing Agencies, donor partners, and the private
and non-profit sectors. Dr. Robin Mahon, Director of
CERMES, who is regional coordinator for the Caribbean
Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) Project participated.

Coastal livelihoods regional seminar
A regional seminar on Improving Coastal Livelihoods:
Lessons Learned from Experience and Priorities for
Future Research, was held in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, 28
- 30 July 2005. A presentation on "Coastal resource co-
management" was made by Dr. Patrick McConney and

Kemraj Parsram, a CERMES graduate now with the

Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA). McConney
A field trip with Peter Espeut to see some aspects of the
and Parsram were also there for the final project
Portland Bight Reserve, including the Alligator Pond,
workshop of the Institutional arrangements for coastal
was much enjoyed by visiting participants (see photo).
management in the Caribbean (NRSP R8317) that was
Espeut is Executive Director of the Caribbean Coastal
held on 28 July and organised by the Caribbean Natural
Area Management (CCAM) Foundation.
Resources Institute (CANARI) the project leader.

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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