Project
Visserij Caribisch Nederland
Small-scale fisheries have always been an important subsistence and economic activity for the inhabitants of the islands of the Caribbean Netherlands. At the same time, fisheries exert heavy pressure on the vulnerable coastal fish stocks and coral reef ecosystem. Sustainable management is essential if coral reefs and fisheries are to be able to continue supplying their many and varied ecosystem services. For this a wide variety of data are needed on the main targeted species. Fisheries port sampling constitutes the cornerstone of data collection needed for this. In addition, supplementary data and studies are needed to address new questions and issues as they arise. WMR provides core support to local fisheries management by helping guide the fisheries port sampling program and in data analysis. In addition, WMR helps in designing and conducting supplementary studies as needed along with the island fisheries partners and stakeholder.
Because a large portion of the fishries resources of the Caribbean netherlands are currently overexploited, yields are lower than they could or need be and several other important ecosystem services provided by coral reefs ecosystems are in danger. In support of more sustainable fisheries and to address vital information needs, WMR supports a variety of fisheries related studies.
For the year 2022 the planned activities will be:
- guidance and support to fisheries port sampling on St. Eustatius
- guidance and support to fisheries port sampling on St. Eustatius
- support for implementation of improved fisheries monitoring for Saba and St. Eustatius
- renewed efforts towards field sampling for deepwater conch population estimation around Bonaire
- Support for the development of a FAD-fishery in Bonaire.