Case study analysis of coastal resources co-management in the Caribbean

Abstract

Fisheries and coastal resources management in the Caribbean is relatively novel, with many fisheries are fully exploited or overexploited. The fishers, most of whom are small-scale, are now finding their livelihoods threatened due to resource overexploitation and environmental and habitat degradation. Also, tourism and coastal development have caused increased conflicts among various coastal and marine resource users. These circumstances have led to increasing interest in the region to improve fisheries and coastal resources management by getting the fishers and other resource users and stakeholders involved in management through co-management and community-based management (CBM). This study analyzed coastal resources co-management processes in the Caribbean using an institutional analysis approach as example, with specific focus on two case studies – the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA), Jamaica, and the Soufriere/Scotts Head Marine Reserve (SSMR), Dominica. The study determined the extent to which the coastal resources co-management approaches and processes in the case study sites have developed and succeeded.