Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia

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Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia
Sarita Williams-Peter Saint Lucia
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Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia
Bois D'Orange Mangroves Marine Reserve
Caesar Point to Mathurin Point reefs Marine Reserve
Canaries/Anse la Raye Marine Management Area Local Fisheries Management Area
- Marigot Bay Mangrove Forest Marine Reserve
- Artifical Reef at Anse Cochon (Lesleen M) Marine Reserve
- Reefs extending from Rocky Shore south of Anse Galet Marine Reserve
- Artifical Reef at Anse la Verdure (Daini-Koyomaru Dredger) Marine Reserve
Cas-en-Bas Mangroves Marine Reserve
Choc Bay Artificial Reef Marine Reserve
Choc Bay Mangroves Marine Reserve
Fond D'Or Beach Marine Reserve
Grand Anse Beach and Mangrove Marine Reserve
Louvet Mangroves Marine Reserve
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Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia
Vigie Beach Artificial Reef Marine Reserve
Point Sable Management Area Environmental Protection Area
- Maria Islet Reef Marine Reserve
- Maria Islets Wildlife Reserve
- Anse Pointe Sable-Man Kote Mangroves Marine Reserve/ Ramsar sites
- Esperance Harbour Mangroves Marine Reserve / Ramsar site
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Marine Protected Areas in Saint Lucia
Marquis Mangroves Marine Reserve
Moule-a-Chique artificial reef Marine Reserve
Bois D'Orange Mangroves Marine Reserve
Rodney Bay Artificial Reefs Marine Reserve
Savannes Bay Mangrove Area Marine Reserve
Soufriere Marine Management Area Local Fisheries Management Area
- Reefs from Anse Chastnet to the western most point of Trou au Diable Beach (includes Grande Caille Reef) Marine Reserve
- Reefs from just west of Rachette Point to and including Bat Cave Marine Reserve
- Reefs from the southern end of Malgretoute Beach to northern end of Jalousie Beach (i.e. Reefs around Petit Piton) Marine Reserve
- Reefs from northern extent of Gros Piton to the western most point of Gros Piton Marine Reserve
- Pitons Management Area (terrestrial and marine components) Environmental Protection Area/ World Heritage Site
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Soufriere Marine Management Area A Marine
Protected Area on the West Coast of Saint Lucia
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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

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Unique Consultative and Participatory Process

• Clean slate
• Multiple stakeholder meetingsgovernmental,
  non-governmental, community-based persons
• Representation/mobilisation of groups
• Various site visits
• Scientific studies and popular knowledge
• No time line

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Zoning Arrangements

• Marine Reserves
• Fishing Priority Areas
• Yacht Mooring Areas
• Recreational Areas
• Multiple Use Areas

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Marine Reserves
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Fishing Priority Areas
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Yacht Mooring Areas
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Recreational Areas
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Multiple Use Areas
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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.

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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 Companys Act
• Agencies on BODs retain individual management
  authority for areas and sectors under jurisdiction

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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

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Institutional Structure (III)

• SMMA Board of Directors (Contd)
• St Lucia Dive Association
• St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association
• Soufriere Fishermens Cooperative
• Soufriere Regional Development Foundation
• Soufriere Water Taxi Association
• Parliamentary Representative for Soufriere
  Constituency

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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

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Financial Arrangements

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

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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

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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

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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 fishermens catches
• Self-sustainability with regards to operating
  costs
• International recognition
• Community support
• Enhanced awareness and sensitisation

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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

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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