LAC PROJECT: CONCH FISHERY MANAGEMENT

Goal

Work with local fishermen to implement a moratorium on the taking of juvenile conch and to monitor conch stocks in Lac in order to reestablish a sustainable conch fishery in Lac.

Rationale
The conch fishery in Lac is on the point of collapse. Overfishing has been rampant for more than a decade with the result that a survey in 1999 found not one single adult conch in the bay. Historical evidence indicates that conch were harvested at a rate of up to 500 conch/month. The Bonaire National Marine Park proposes working with fishermen to implement a complete moratorium on the taking of juvenile conch, to legalize the taking of adult conch by 3-5 local fishermen through the issuance of permits from the Island Government. Finally working with local fishermen to implement a conch tagging and monitoring programme will allow Bonairian fishermen to take control of the fishery and will allow conch, which are a globally threatened species to recover and recolonize Lac.

Activities

Phase 1: Preparation
Liason with conch fishermen, STINAPA, BNMP manager and rangers
Hiring and training part time ranger / assistant
Project proposal and TOR signed with STINAPA Bonaire

Phase 2: Planning
Test conch monitoring programme (catch and release)
Run informal workshop/s with local fishermen
Negotiate MoU with participating fishermen
Work with Legal Department to issue valid conch permits to participating fishermen
Initiate "capture, mark, recapture" monitoring programme with fishermen
Test monitoring programme with fishermen and assistant
Press coverage

Phase 3: Implementation
Fishermen (4) - first year of monitoring
Assistant - first year of monitoring
Monitoring equipment and training
Data analysis

Phase 4: Evaluation and reporting
Data evaluation and interpretation
Year end report
Press coverage