BONAIRE: FISH PROTECTED AREAS

Goal

Establish Fish Protected Areas within the Bonaire National Marine Park in order to safeguard the integrity of Bonaire's reef fish populations, particularly grouper, snapper and grunts, by providing adequate and safe refuges for them.

Rationale

There is an urgent need to establish No Take Marine Reserves (NTMRs) or Fish Protected Areas within the Bonaire National Marine Park. Recently discovered fish census data from the 1974 indicates that current reef fish populations are showing clear signs of chronic overfishing. Population numbers of grouper, snapper and grunts are severely depressed. Whilst there does not appear to have been an increase in fishing pressure there are indications that local fishermen are beginning to target non traditional fish species such as parrotfish. This could have dire consequences for Bonaire's coral reefs as parrotfish are the most important and most abundant reef grazers. It is therefore proposed to work closely with the local fishing community, dive operators and Marine Park to establish Fish Protected Areas at strategic sites where all forms of fishing will be completely prohibited.

Activities

Preparation
Open dialogue with stakeholders, establish needs and parameters
Develop project plan, timeline and budget
MoU/Terms of Reference for the project
Seek funding

Phase 1: Collecting baseline data (Drs Steneck/McClannahan)
Collect baseline data on fish populations at selected sites
Collect baseline data on reefs and coral recruitment
Produce initial evaluation of Bonaire's reefs and need for Fish Protected Areas (completed)

Phase 2: Community outreach
Open dialogue with fishing co-operative and leaders of the fishing community
Evaluate response to establishing closed areas
Discuss: location of FPAs, size, timeframe for closure
Develop MoU with fishing community and solicite support from community leaders

Phase 3: Media campaign leading to closure
Write 6+ articles for the local newspaper/s
Attend 2+ live chat shows on the radio (Marine Park and fishermen)
Organise 1+ TV appearance (Marine Park spokesperson and community leader/s)
Develop educational component for Bonairian schools/school teachers (NME)
Incorporate into Tortuganan di Boneiru activities (NME)

Phase 4: Legal aspects
Make all necessary preparations for the legal closure of FPAs with JAZ/BC
Stipulate site designation for closure, duration of closure, MoU with fishing co-op
Propose any necessary changes to Marine Environment Ordinance

Phase 5: Monitoring: in water (Drs Steneck/McClannahan)
Monitor and assess fish populations inside and outside of FPAs
Monitor reef and coral recruitment inside and outside of FPAs

Phase 6: Monitoring: fish catch (with VOMIL)
Work with fishing community and VOMIL to establish catch data for reef fish
Map fishing effort (fish areas used, landed catch and catch per unit effort)
Establish plan to monitor fishing effort on an ongoing basis

Phase 7: Site exchange with St Lucia
Prepartation, collection of baseline data, logistics
Field visit to Bonaire by St Lucian delegation of fishermen and Park staff
Field visit to St Lucia by Bonairian delegation of fishermen and Park staff