Connections 3 June2005
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
As the second semester nears its end we reflect on the
event was implemented by The Nature Conservancy
many activities of April and May. We had distinguished
(TNC) in partnership with a broad alliance of NGOs and
visitors, faculty and technical staff attended various
international and national organisations.
workshops as participants and trainers, and students
went on field trips. Soon the (relative) quiet of summer
will be here on campus. However, our students will be
busy all around the Caribbean doing their research so
as to complete their degrees. Already we are beginning
to deal with the applicants for the next academic year.
Field trip to the Grenadines Islands
Fourteen CERMES students took part in a week long
field trip to the Grenadine Islands as part of the MSc
course 'Managing coastal and marine resources and
biodiversity'. Accompanied by Dr. Robin Mahon and
Maria Pena, they visited Bequia, Union Island, Mayreau
and Carriacou, as well as the Tobago Cays Marine Park
and Sandy Island/Oyster Bed marine protected area.
The programme included visits to NGOs, lectures from
Grenadines environmentalists and tours of sites that
provide insight into issues associated with coastal
development on small islands.
The 3-day workshop was attended by participants from
MPAs and other natural resource management bodies
across the wider Caribbean. They looked at the issue of
managing coral reefs to maximise resilience to global
threats such as coral bleaching and diminishing fish
spawning aggregations. Many ideas were shared and
standard monitoring protocols were discussed. The
workshop increased networking amongst practitioners
facing common problems in reef management, and
improved access to a large array of resource materials
Workshop on sponge taxonomy
Renata Goodridge attended a Regional Sponge
Taxonomy Workshop, held at Discovery Bay Marine
Lab, Jamaica, from 30-31March.
The focus was on
sponge morphology
and identification in
The group is seen here exploring the abandoned
the lab by examining
marina development in Ashton Bay, Union Island.
spicules. There was
also one collection
Reef resilience workshop in Mexico
dive. There is a lot to
learn about sponge
Dr. Hazel Oxenford of CERMES and Ramon Roach of
identification. Even
the Coastal Zone Management Unit were the Barbados
for an experienced
participants at a recent Caribbean Reef Resilience
field collector, the training was extremely useful indeed.
Workshop held in Akumal, Mexico from 5-7April. The
Society for Applied Anthropology
communicating the experience of applying many of the
Dr. Patrick McConney attended the meeting of the
techniques. Participants had an opportunity to learn
Society for Applied Anthropology in Santa Fe, New
about the Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA)
Mexico, from 5-10 April. He participated in a panel
and to interact with the manager and rangers who were
session on "Strengthening Stakeholder Participation in
our hosts. Fieldwork was also done in the nearby village
Fisheries Management", making a presentation on
of Canaries.
"Stakeholders in Caribbean fisheries and integrated
coastal management". He also distributed materials as
UNEP is providing grants for small follow-up studies in
part of the promotion of the UWI Coastal Management
participants' home countries, and may sponsor some
Research Network (COMARE Net)
presentations at the 58th meeting of the Gulf and
Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) in San Andres
MPA Workshops in Negril, Jamaica
Island, Colombia, if participants submit papers that are
accepted for oral presentation or poster sessions.
A Workshop on MPAs and Sustainable Coastal
Livelihoods was held in Negril, Jamaica on 13 April. It
Visiting dignitaries from Bermuda
was organised by the Caribbean Natural resources
Institute (CANARI). Dr. Patrick McConney participated
On 26April a party of dignitaries from Bermuda with
in the workshop and then implemented, on the following
interests in marine affairs and education paid a visit to
day, a Workshop on Socio-economic Monitoring and
CERMES. The guests included the Hon. Terry E. Lister,
Fisheries Management Planning for the Negril Marine
JP, Minister of Education and Development; Chairman
Park on behalf of the Negril Coral Reef Preservation
of the Board for Marine and Ports, Ralph Richardson;
Society (NCRPS). This is one of the several project
Michael Stowe, Executive Officer, National Training
activities that form part of CERMES outreach through a
Board; and Jerome
partnership with Counterpart Caribbean which is based
Robinson, Manager of
in Barbados.
the Marine and Ports.
Here Senior Lecturer,
Working Group on Biodiversity
Dr. Hazel Oxenford is
Dr. Hazel Oxenford is now a member of the Barbados
seen greeting the Hon.
government's Working Group on Biodiversity. The terms
Terry Lister, Bermuda's
of reference of this group of experts are:
Minister of Education
· To advice on national policy and recommend
and Development.
strategies for the management and conservation of
marine and terrestrial biodiversity
Climate change in Belize
· To advise and provide necessary technical input for
Students from CERMES Climate Change specialisation
projects in the area of biodiversity
stream had their field trip in Belize thanks to a great
· To advise on the development of a database on
deal of cooperation from the Caribbean Community
biodiversity
Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) based there. The
· To review and monitor the status of marine and
group was lead by Dr. Leonard Nurse and accompanied
terrestrial biodiversity in Barbados.
by Neetha Selliah, graduate programme coordinator at
CERMES. The students obtained firsthand experience
SocMon training held in St. Lucia
of how climate change impacts are monitored and
Dr. Patrick McConney and Rhonda Lee assisted UNEP
mitigated from policy down to practice in the field. It
as trainers and coordinators in implementing a Regional
was a rewarding trip for all involved.
Training Workshop on Socio-economic Monitoring for
Caribbean Coastal Management (SocMon Caribbean),
CRFM Working Group Meeting
held in Soufriere, St. Lucia, from 9 13 May.
CERMES hosted the `First Meeting of the Caribbean
Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Ad Hoc
The workshop was
Working Group on Methods', at UWI from May 23-27. It
attended by 18
was attended by fisheries personnel from several of the
participants from the
CARICOM countries as well as from the US National
English-speaking
Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science
Caribbean and
Centre in Miami. Its purpose was to explore new
Mexico. It included
approaches to assessment of Caribbean fisheries,
both classroom
especially in manpower and data-limited situations.
training and practical
Over the years CERMES has contributed significantly to
field sessions that
the human capital of fisheries authorities in the region.
were invaluable for
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