On March 31, 2010, UPRSG CRA’s team met with four important members of PR-DNER directly involved in marine and coastal management (these include fisheries, coastal processes and coral reefs). Based on their expertise, we asked them the following crucial questions regarding research and information that is needed to improve conservation and management:

• What type of research or information is needed by DNER on a short (less than 5 years) or long (more than 5 years) term for effective management and conservation?

• What obstacles are presently hindering the development of research needed for the effective management and conservation?

Their responses were diverse and covered several areas regarding resource management:

• Identification and selection of species (particularly fish) that have a critical role in marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Several important species were mentioned by the group; however, a special emphasis was made on the need for an assessment on the populations of these species and the socio-economic impact they may have on local communities.
• Applied sciences that help to better understand the impact of anthropogenic activities (especially sedimentation processes and coastal development) on coastal ecosystems. Non-point source pollution and sediment excavation are major concerns due to their effects along the Puerto Rican coastline.
• Identification of essential and critical habitats. No information currently exists on the habitats of important coral reef species, such as Acropora palmata and A. cervicornis, in the surrounding waters of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
• Research that evaluates the human ecological aspect (social and economical) with regard to the status of certain species, particularly those belonging to recreational fisheries. The resilience capacity or the limit of adaptive change of communities frequently visited by tourists and fishermen also needs to be evaluated.
• Studies on improving ways of effectively and appropriately disseminating information to the general public in order to encourage conservation of our natural resources. This requires open communications among the local community and resource managers, which also entails a certain level of trust among the parties.
• Evaluations to determine effective strategies of management. Several measures taken to conserve and manage certain coastal regions should be assessed to ascertain the methods used and address those strategies that did not result in any improvement.

In general, this particular group emphasized research that incorporates an adaptive and ecosystem-based management approach. They also encouraged studies that helped characterize our ecosystems, notwithstanding the human component that directly affect these environments. Effectively disseminating information and learning from good-management skills was also considered essential for successful strategies in management and conservation.

Their response was the following:

• Need more information regarding the age of maturity for fishes, particularly female, in order to effectively manage catches.
• Provide mandatory educational courses for local fishermen (e.g., needed for licence renewal) to obligate their participation in workshops regarding about overfishing. Use the media (signs, stickers, etc.) to get local fishermen to cooperate in better fisheries management.
• Consistent monitoring of water quality. Surfrider measured water quality for several months; however, they are currently looking for extra funds to continue this project due to frequent visitors to TPMR. Presently, there is no data from the USGS for this particular area.
• Studies on the flux of visitors (PR residents and tourists) in order to determine socio-economic impacts (e.g., surf and scuba economics) and carrying capacity of the area. This information would help to establish a baseline of the amount of people visiting TPMR and how many visitors the area is able to accommodate.
• Studies on the impacts of climate change and how this will affect TPMR. Encourage local communities to take an active role in recycling activities.
• Develop mechanisms to better enforce laws that protect public beach access.

You can check out the latest activities on the local chapter’s blog at http://rinconsurfrider.blogspot.com/

More information about Tres Palmas, Rincón:

Salva Tres Palmas – The Film (from Vimeo)

Salvemos a Tres Palmas (YouTube)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo courtesy: Surfrider – Rincón Chapter

On February 24, 2010, we carried out a discussion session with the staff of JBNERR (http://jbnerr.org/english). This activity took place at the Visitors Center with six participants that specialize in coastal research/monitoring and outreach/education. During this session, we asked questions regarding the research and information needs specific for improving the management and conservation of the reserve:

• What type of research or information is needed on a short (less than 5 years) or long (more than 5 years) term for effective management and conservation of the JBNERR?
• What obstacles are presently hindering the development of research needed for the effective management and conservation of the JBNERR?

With regard to research needed on a short or long-term, one of their main concerns is developing a large-scale management program that includes the harmful effects caused by the use of adjacent lands and coasts. A strategic plan for better management was also recommended, but requires the development of accurate models with critical areas identified. To date, there is no critical analysis on the status of JBNERR. Studies on the connectivity among adjacent areas were heavily emphasized, including the condition and management of adjacent bays, particularly on the eastern side of the Reserve. Hydrologic studies, specifically water budget, are needed to determine the water flow from the north to the bay. Little importance has been given to the impact of nearby lands, bays and coral reefs associated with the area. Information on the carrying capacity of the area and the influence of tourism is also absent and should be evaluated due to the flow of visitors and local resource users (e.g., fishermen). Studies on the socio-economic benefit of the Estuarine and the socio-economic impact of the local resource users are needed to complement the development of accurate models of JBNERR.

Visitor’s Center at the National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) in Jobos Bay, Puerto Rico.

Outreach and education is an important component of the JBNERR, which receives frequent on-site visits and inquiries from local schools and communities about the estuaries’ ecosystem. These visitors are shown the importance of managing and conserving the bay and how they can contribute to its conservation. However, studies on the benefits of resource management within JBNERR that may provide a socio-economic value to the area have not been made. Another major concern is community resilience to climate change, which is presently lacking in preparation to deal with the impacts.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video clip about JBNERR - Aventureros del Mar (Sea Grant Puerto Rico) (Spanish audio with English subtitles)

Obstacles that are impeding the development of research included the lack of communication between users and managers in layman’s terms, limited skilled and trained personnel resulting in insufficient time to work on research projects, the lack of application of research to resource management and how it would benefit managers, the lack of a multidisciplinary approach in management regarding planning and development, the lack of teaching students about management and conservation in local universities, and the lack of easy-to-read, user-friendly maps and tools.

Each participant was also encouraged to recommend three (3) research projects that they considered urgent and that would improve management and conservation of the Bay. These included:

• Prepare local communities surrounding JBNERR to understand the impacts of climate change on an economic, social and environmental level. In other words, evaluate community resilience.
• Studies on health effects brought about consumption of contaminated fish and the possible association with local industries (active and non-operating such as thermoelectric, sugar cane and coal plants).
• The effect of recreational activities on the coral reefs of JBNERR. How can user’s attitudes about resource conservation be changed (such as inappropriate use of boats and the destruction of seagrasses, mangroves and corals)?
• Environmental education tools and resources to encourage changes in user’s attitudes towards coastal resources.
• Determine socio-economic impacts on the local community based on the co-management of the Reserve and adjacent ecosystems.
• Determine the level of knowledge regarding aquaculture and pesticides, particularly their impacts on the Reserve.
• Integrated hydrologic management plan that identifies land use and changes, different water sources, water discharge zones, and possible contaminant agents that reach the Reserve.
• Studies about fisheries using heuristic information and the actual status of the fisheries industry, which includes contemplating alternatives such as species restoration and/or mariculture as a sustainable source. Possible re-introduction of keystone species.
• Monitoring studies on seagrasses and their restoration, including an educational aspect dedicated to minimizing the impact of recreational activities, while identifying areas for this particular use and protecting more sensitive areas. Controlling the amount of invasive and/or exotic species. Long-term monitoring of temperature, acidification, migratory species, water quality and socio-economic impacts.
• Habitat restoration and reforestation including seagrasses, wetlands, hydrographic basins, maritime and terrestrial zone.
• Co-management and dissemination of information among the major reserves in PR. Promoting projects that encourage communication among the local communities and managers.

Photos courtesy of: JBNERR Photo Gallery

The main objectives of the discussion session were:

1. Assess research needs of resource users, managers, and scientists for the improvement and conservation of fisheries management on a short- and long-term scale.
2. Identify obstacles that may be hindering or delaying the development of research and strategies for fisheries management in the Caribbean.
3. Identify stakeholders and experts in fisheries management located in the Caribbean.

We asked four general questions concerning research and management issues pertaining to fisheries:

1. What type of research is presently required (short-term) in the region for fisheries management?
2. What critical information is needed during the next 5-10 years (long-term research) in order to deal with fisheries management?
3. What type of information can resource managers use in order to become better decision-makers?
4. What obstacles are presently hindering research/assessments that can help improve fisheries management?

Dr. Kurt Grove, Sea Grant Research Coordinator, led the scoping session.

Responses to our questions:

• More assessments on recreational fisheries in terms of economical impact
• Studies on the effect of bans, closures, and MPAs on species protection
• Establishing regional baselines for managers
• Projects that evaluate the social, economic, and cultural impact of fisheries management in local communities
• Determine the age distribution of species targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries
• Preparing for natural disasters, such as hurricanes, pathogenic diseases of reefs, changes in seawater temperature, and red tides, which are related to climate change
• Studies on the dynamics of population structure of existing fish stocks
• Disseminate useful information through dialogues among managers, scientists, and fishers demonstrating the importance of fishery independent data for the purpose of achieving sustainable resource stocks

Please read our full report for more details on GCFI’s response.

Approximately 60 participants attended the session.

Do you share these views? If you are involved in fisheries research and/or management, we’d like to hear from you! Please leave any comments regarding our four questions (or any other issue relating to fisheries management or research) in this section of our blog.

Detailed report of GCFI’s response to our questions

GCFI members take a swim in one of the beautiful waterfalls at Guadeloupe, French West Indies