Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia

1. Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia Sarita Williams-Peter Saint Lucia

2. Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia

3. Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia

4. Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia

5. Soufriere Marine Management Area: A Marine Protected Area on the West Coast of Saint Lucia

6. Background • Increase in water-based tourism activity in Soufriere vs. traditional users • Conflict and competition for limited space and resources among various users and uses • Degradation of resources; loss of economic opportunity; threat of violence! • Initial unsuccessful effort by Department of Fisheries

7. Unique Consultative and Participatory Process • Clean slate • Multiple stakeholder meetings:governmental, non-governmental, community-based persons • Representation/mobilisation of groups • Various site visits • Scientific studies and popular knowledge • No time line

8. Zoning Arrangements • Marine Reserves • Fishing Priority Areas • Yacht Mooring Areas • Recreational Areas • Multiple Use Areas

9. Marine Reserves

10. Fishing Priority Areas

11. Yacht Mooring Areas

12. Recreational Areas

13. Multiple Use Areas

14. Mission Statement • To contribute to national and local development, particularly in the fisheries and tourism sectors, through the management of the Soufriere coastal zone, based on the principles of sustainable use, co-operation among resource users, institutional collaboration, active and enlightened local participation, and equitable sharing of benefits and responsibilities among stakeholders.

15. Institutional Structure (I) • Board of Directors (BODs) (meets at least once per quarter; also annual general meeting) • Stakeholder Committee (meets at least once per quarter) • Staff (manager, rangers, public relations officer, accountant, administrative assistant, auxiliary staff) • Local Fisheries Management Authority under the Fisheries Act (Area is Local Fisheries Management Area) • Not-for-profit Company under the Company’s Act • Agencies on BODs retain individual management authority for areas and sectors under jurisdiction

16. Institutional Structure (II) SMMA Board of Directors • President (person with proven knowledge and experience in the field of development and management, appointed for a renewable period of two years by Cabinet of Ministers, upon recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) • Ministry with responsibility for Fisheries • Ministry with responsibility for Planning • Ministry with responsibility for Tourism • St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority • National Conservation Authority

17. Institutional Structure (III) SMMA Board of Directors (Cont’d) • St Lucia Dive Association • St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association • Soufriere Fishermen’s Cooperative • Soufriere Regional Development Foundation • Soufriere Water Taxi Association • Parliamentary Representative for Soufriere Constituency

18. Institutional Structure (IV) SMMA Stakeholder Committee (SC) • Includes a broad membership to ensure representation of all stakeholders • All major proposals for management and development produced or being considered by the management agencies of the Association, and related to the SMMA, must be presented to the SC for advice • Issues raised by the SC are to be considered by the Board of Directors of the SMMA

19. Financial Arrangements • User fees (dive, snorkel and coral conservation (mooring) fees • Installation of moorings • Sale of souvenirs • Internet café • Donations • Grants

20. What Does the SMMA Do? (I) • Scientific research on the natural resources of the area • Regular monitoring of coral reefs, water quality and other environmental factors and resources • Public information and sensitisation • Provision of facilities for users of the SMMA, e.g. moorings • Coordination of economic activities related to the SMMA and its resources

21. What Does the SMMA Do (II) • Promotion of technologies that are appropriate and linked with local environmental, social and cultural aspects of the SMMA • Surveillance and enforcement of rules and regulations • Conflict resolution among the various user groups whenever necessary • Maintenance of the principles of ongoing participation and public consultation

22. A Few Highlighted Achievements • Co-existence of users with minimal conflict • Increases in fish stocks in marine reserves and fishing areas and reflection of these increases in fishermen’s catches • Self-sustainability with regards to operating costs • International recognition • Community support • Enhanced awareness and sensitisation

23. But All is Not Well... • Sedimentation and Sewage • Overuse of certain dive sites (localised congestion) • Non-compliance with rules and regulations by fishers from communities adjacent to Soufriere • Theft on yachts/inadequate involvement of district police/lenient penalties • Inadequate consultation regarding development activity or inadequate and/or untimely action when reports are made • Late payment of user fees

24. New Developments/Challenges • Management of Canaries/Anse la Marine Management Area (CAMMA) • Proposed new hotel development in the SMMA, including marina • World Heritage Site issues • Sedimentation & wastewater, coupled with the compounding effects of storm events and global warming