Keywords
fisheries management
Caribbean reef fisheries
regulatory policy
sustainable fisheries
Puerto Rico
Pesquería de ornamentales
manejo de pesquerías
pesquerías del Caribe
política regulatoria
pesquería sostenible
Puerto Rico
How to Cite
Abstract
In recent years the collection of tropical marine organisms for the aquarium trade has become perceived as an activity with an unsustainable history as well as obvious potential for rehabilitation through resource-based fisheries management and consumer-oriented product certification. In the case of Puerto Rico, collection of ornamentals has existed for decades, though unregulated due to a weak fisheries law dating from the 1930’s. The new Fisheries Law 278 of 1998 enabled new regulatory approaches for marine ornamentals, which were met with serious challenges rooted in (1) an information gap concerning the fishery regarding participant numbers, collection methods and export volumes, and (2) the absence of consultation of fishers by agency regulators. The information gap led to worst-case assumptions of impact by regulators, and a closure of the fishery, which set the stage for threatening personal confrontations and lawsuits, the latter leading to de facto resource management by judicial order. To redress these issues and move management back into the arena of science and public policy, regulators have initiated a three-phase program: (1) characterize fisher numbers, methods and exports, (2) describe populations and biology of commercial species, and (3) propose appropriate fisheries management approaches. This paper describes only the first phase of this program.References
Barber, C.V. & V.R. Pratt. 1998. Policy reform and community- based programs to combat cyanide fishing in the Asia-Pacific Region, p. 39-49. In M.E. Hatziolos & M. Fodor (eds.). Proc. Conf. “Coral Reefs: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management”. The World Bank. Washington, DC, USA. Oct. 9-11, 1997.
Berkes, F., R. Mahon, P. McConney, R. Pollnac & R. Pomeroy. 2001. Managing small-scale fisheries: alternative directions and methods. International Development Research Center, Ottawa, Canada. 320 p.
Cruz, F.P. 2001. Supplying the demand for sustainability: stories from the field, p. 13-14. Program and Abstracts: Marine Ornamentals 2001, Collection, Culture, and Conservation. Nov. 26-Dec. 1, 2001. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA.
Djohani, R. 1997. Abatement of destructive fishing practices in Indonesia: Who will pay?, p 25-29. In M.E. Hatziolos & M. Fodor (eds.). Proc. Conf. “Coral Reefs: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management”. The World Bank. Washington, DC, USA. Oct. 9-11, 1997.
Isaac, V.J., B. Mitlewski, M.L. Ruffino & P.R.S. Oliveira. 1999. Metodologia para primeiros contatos, levantamentos participativos e multidisciplinares e incentivos cooperação junto aos gruposalvo de projetos de desenvolvimento. IBAMA. Coleção Meio Ambiente. Série Estudos de Pesca 21: 13-23.
Latin, H.A. 2001. Non-implementation of anti-cyanide measures in poor coastal areas, p. 157-159. Program and Abstracts: Marine Ornamentals 2001, Collection, Culture, and Conservation. Nov. 26-Dec. 1, 2001. Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA.
LeGore, R.S., R. Martinez, C. Lillyestrom, J.M. Berrios, K. Pollio-Hein & M. Hardin. 1998. Strategic planning for fisheries management in Puerto Rico. Rev. Biol. Trop. 46 (Suppl. 5): 73-79.
LeGore, R.S., M.P. Hardin & D. Ter-Ghazaryan. 2005. The organization and operation of the export fishery for marine ornamental fish and invertebrates in Puerto Rico. Proc. 31st AMLC Scient. Meet., Trinidad & Tobago. Rev. Biol. Trop. 53 (Suppl. 1): in press.
MacKinnon, N. 1997. Destructive fishing practices in the Asia-Pacific Region, p. 32-34. In M.E. Hatziolos & M. Fodor (eds.). Proc. Conf. “Coral Reefs: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management”. The World Bank. Washington, DC, USA. Oct. 9-11, 1997.
Mahon, R., S. Almerigi, P. McConney, C. Parker & L. Brewster. 2003. Participatory methodology used for sea urchin co-management in Barbados. Ocean Coast. Manag. 46: 1-25.
Makoloweka, S. 1997. Destructive fishing with dynamite, p. 35-38. In M.E. Hatziolos & M. Fodor (eds.). Proc. Conf. “Coral Reefs: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Management”. The World Bank. Washington, DC, USA. Oct. 9-11, 1997.
McManus, L.T. 1995. Community-based coastal resources management, Bolinao, Philippines: an evolving partnership among academe, NGOs and local communities. Coast. Manag. Trop. Asia 5: 6-8.
Ruffino, M.L. 1996. Towards participatory fishery management on the Lower Amazon. EC Fisheries Coop. Bull. 9: 15-18.
Ruffino, M.L. 2002. Participatory management of fisheries in the Brazilian Amazon, p. 1-11. Proc. Int. Symp. Manag. Large Rivers for Fisheries: Sustaining Livelihoods and Biodiversity in the New Millennium. Feb. 12-15 2002. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sadovy, Y. 1992. A preliminary assessment of the export trade in marine aquarium organisms in Puerto Rico. Proc. 7th Int. Coral Reef Symp., Guam 2: 1014-1022.
Talaue-McManus, L., A.C. Yambao, S.G. Salmo III & P.M. Alino. 1999. Bolinao, northern Philippines: participatory planning for coastal development. Part 2, Chapter 7. In D. Buckles (ed.). Cultivating Peace: Conflict and Collaboration in Natural Resource Management. International Development Research Center/World Bank.
Wood, E. 2001. Collection of coral reef fish for aquaria: global trade, conservation issues and management strategies. Marine Conservation Society, UK. 80 p.
Comments
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2005 Revista de Biología Tropical