The MPA Name Park The past and future

The MPA Name Park The past and future of the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust

Park Boundaries and Sanctuary Area 100 m/330 ft/50 Fathom Depth Contour to The Average Highest High Tide Mark 50 Fathom/100 M Depth Great River Point Bogue Lagoon Fish Sanctuary Tropical Beach

History of Park Management 1990: Divers recognized a decrease in fish to the point that the industry was suffering and began working for a protected area 1992: the National Parks Act declared the Montego Bay Marine Park protected area, to be managed by the Planning Institute 1996: Local management was delegated to the Montego Bay Marine Park Trust under a co-management agreement with the Government of Jamaica

How the Trust Operates Delegation For 2007/8: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NEPA • Formally appoints the Trust as local manager of the Park in a Co-Management agreement • Provides basic funding for management and enforcement • Reviewed and renewed annually Further Funding of 07: • Private local donors • National Parks Trust Fund • A portion of Park area beach fees • Local donor agencies • Project grants, sponsors and partners • Memberships and private support

Park Problems and Challenges Overfishing/Overharvest: Solid Waste: Sewage Treatment: Coastal Development: Public Education: Tourism facilitation: Environmental/Scientific monitoring: Oil and chemical pollution: Hillside agriculture: Hillside construction: Sustainable development: Wildlife monitoring and rescue: Anchor damage: Deforestation: Laws and politics: …….

For 2007/8: - We chose the one problem with the biggest “bang for the buck”, a fisheries management initiative coined: -GROW FISH: as improved fish populations lead directly into the pockets of Montegonians through improved tourism and catches.

Ground-Programmes 1992: PIOJ’s aggressive enforcement without education lead to chronic conflict… but improved stocks 1996: Interpretive Enforcement was adopted with Trust takeover. 1996 -2004: Academic sociological research of the local Fisher Communities provided insight and built trust. 1998: The Trust performed the fisherman’s sensitization programme. 2005: Fishers Permitting Programme: issued Park permits to every fisherman working in the Bay who completed training in ecology and regulations

-GROW FISH- Work: -Repeat the ‘ 05 permitting project -Place signs -Rigorous enforcement (Military Police) -Setting of new no-fishing zone at high-value area (Will be done with the fisher folks) Outcomes: • More fish, bigger fish, more kinds of fish • Improved general tourism product and more diverse tourism opportunities • More productive fishery outside of zone(s) and Park • Return of high-value SCUBA industry

Expected Outcome: 3 -fold improvement in fish populations -size, number and species diversitywithin 18 months. Montego Bay regains its world-class SCUBA diving product and status in two years. - Fisher catches and incomes improved outside the protected area.

Setting the Stage: Rebuilding work of 2007: - Renewal of NEPA delegation including base-funding - Sourcing and hiring more staff - Effective, visible enforcement - Fisher sensitization and re-building communications/trust - Equipping, empowering and partnerships for enforcement

Into ‘ 08 Managing the Fishery: - Regulation compliance - No-Fishing zones - Fisher re-employment - Academic monitoring and reporting And Selling Our New Fish - Valuation of living fish through tourism - Facilitation and enhancement of Eco-friendly tourism - Fisher re-employment

Tourism- our vision The Park’s core contribution is a Bay full of beautiful marine life on healthy and vibrant coral reefs. We will be working in: • Branding of Montego Bay/the Park as a beautiful, user-friendly Eco-destination. • Working with private and public stakeholders for responsible Mo. Bay development • Developing sustainable attractions combining the coastal and inland, natural and cultural aspects of the area.

Tourism Development -Partnership Guidelines To provide: 1. Formal Use and Control of Space 2. Fisher Employment 3. Park Trust income 4. Minimal environmental impact, maximum “greenness”

Example Projects Ø Park’s Website Ø Fish-Food Ø Bogue Lagoon Eco-tour Ø MBJ Docks at Kent Ave. Ø Mo. Bay Water-Taxi Ø Howard Cooke Blvd Park Ø Sea-Turtle Restoration Park Ø Technical SCUBA diving product Ø Branching Coral Restoration Ø Public Boating Dock Ø Mariculture

Seeking Partners and Volunteers for ‘ 08/’ 09/’ 10 - Decorative Signs Vigilance, Reporting and Enforcement Reef and Environmental Monitoring Marine Rescue Team Dive Club: photography and videography Mooring Maintenance Website Inputs/Contributions Coral and Mangrove Restoration Beach Clean-Ups Turtle Watches Gloucester Ave “Bluing” Painting. . .

Designation Type • Bouge Lagoon - Fisheries Sanctuary • Montego Bay - Marine Park Law/Agreement Bouge lagoon Ø Fisheries Industry Act Ø National Resources Conservation Act Montego Bay Marine Park Ø Fisheries Industry Act Ø National Resources Conservation Act

Admin Organization For the Bouge Lagoon Ø Fishing Industry Act, Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act For the Montego Bay Marine Park Ø NEPA & MBMPT

Budget & Staffing Annual budget needed (USD) Ø $300, 000 Annual budget available (USD) Ø $100, 000 Sources of funding (organization & amount) Ø Government & other donors Number of Staff (Permanent) Ø 4

Habitat Bouge Lagoon Coral Reef Seagrass Mangrove Estuary Lagoon Spawning/bre eding area Beach Rock Gravel Sand Mud Pelagic x x x x x

Habitat Montego Bay Marine Park Coral R e ef x Seagra s s Mangro v e Estu x x x Lago a r y o n x Spawni n g / b r e e d i n g a r e a Bea x x Ro c h Gra c k Sa v e l M n d Pela u d x x g i c x

Species Bouge Lagoon Key Species Ø red mangroves, conch, crabs, snapper and parrot fish Invasive Species Ø Mostly Terrestrial: Willow, Coconut (Cocus nusiferus) and Mongoose

Montego Marine Park Key Species Ø Mangroves, corals, black sea urchin, parrot fish Invasive Species Ø Mooring Sponges and Algae

Summary • • Research Quality Testing (water and fish stock and type) Education (Solid and Liquid waste) Money Generation (User fees system)

MPA URL Contact Person Contact email Contact number Fax www. mbmp. org Omar Ebanks manager@mbmp. org 1 -876 -952 -5619 1 -876 -940 -0659 Thank you