Figure 18 Map of South Water Caye Marine Reserve
Question Purpose
Main purpose of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve is the conservation of biodiversity for tourism and fisheries sustainability.
Question Purpose Yes No 1b Five objectives are included in the management plan, tourism,
fisheries, education and public use, recreation and monitoring. X
CURRENT MANAGEMENT CAPACITY SUMMARY
Question Assessment Area Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3
2 Management Planning X
3 Ecological Network Development X
4 Governance X
5 On-site management X
6 Enforcement* X
7 Boundaries X
8 Biophysical Monitoring X
9 Socioeconomic Monitoring X
10 MPA Effectiveness Evaluation X
11 Stakeholder Engagement X
12 Financing X
13 Outreach and Education* X
14 Conflict Resolution Mechanism
15 Resilience to Climate Change X
16 Alternative Livelihoods X
17 Fisheries Management X
18 Integrated Coastal Management
19 MPA Sustainable tourism X
20 Organizational Management X
21 Partnerships/Coordination* X
Assessment Area YES NO
22 Economic Valuation
23 Emergency Response X
24 Ecosystem Based Management X
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
Assessment Area High Medium Low
25 Public Support X
26 Government Support X
*Denotes identified priorities for capacity building.
2. Management Planning (Tier 3)
Rationale: an approved management plan is being implemented, even though not all aspects of the management plan are currently being attended.
3. Ecological Networking (Tier 3)
Rationale: South Water Caye Marine Reserve forms part of the Southern Belize Reef Complex which is also composed of Laughing Bird Caye National Park, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, and the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. Management of the SWCMR is coordinated with other marine reserves through the Ecosystems Management Unit of the Fisheries Department.
4. Governance (Tier 3)
Rationale: all activities conducted at the site are governed by specific and clearly defined rules and regulations. Regulations are included in the zoning pattern for the reserve. Nevertheless, there is need to have a summary version of the rules and regulations for usage in the field.
Certain amendments to rules and regulations have been developed based on need. For example fishing for sprat and subsistence fishing from docks has been modified. These modifications need to be clarified and placed in writing.
5. On-Site Management (Tier 3)
Rationale: The Belize Fisheries Department employs 5 staff at SWCMR. These include a manager, biologist, 2 rangers and a caretaker who are based at the Twin Cayes ranger station. The staff is responsible for enforcing the fisheries regulations, carrying out patrols, surveillance, research, monitoring, education, outreach, collection of visitor fees, and overall management. A total of four more staff are needed to cover the whole area.
6. Enforcement (Tier 2)
Rationale: there is inconsistent enforcement of rules and regulations due to the large size of the reserve. Enforcement is concentrated in the northern part of the reserve, while the southern zone is only visited for enforcement once a week.
7. Boundaries (Tier 2)
Rationale: boundaries and zones of the reserve are clearly defined. Demarcation is not enough in this large size reserve. A brochure with rules and regulations is available, but a newer brochure will also include the map of the reserve with boundaries and zones and the coordinates.
8. Bio-physical Monitoring (Tier 3)
Rationale: current biophysical monitoring efforts include corals, lobster, conch, birds, coral bleaching, turtle nesting, and capture per unit effort of fish species. The management plan does not have numerical goals for biophysical indicators. Even though the reserve is relatively new (1996), monitoring results have already been used to inform management decisions. For example, reef monitoring revealed that fly fishing resulted in fishermen walking on the back reef, with impact on live coral cover. Fly fishermen are not allowed to walk on the reef now.
Monitoring methods used include the MBRS Synoptic Monitoring Program protocols for corals and seagrasses, and the bar drop method for coral bleaching. Visual transects are used for conch monitoring
9. Socio-economic Monitoring (Tier 2)
Rationale: socioeconomic monitoring at SWCMR includes daily monitoring of visitors for tourist, Belizeans, fishermen and tour guides. No numerical goals are set in the management plan for socioeconomic indicators. Methods for socioeconomic monitoring include daily patrol census of number of visitors, number of tour guides, and type of activity conducted.
10. MPA Effectiveness Evaluation (Tier 2)
Rationale: MPA effectiveness is evaluated but there is no effectiveness monitoring program.
Results from effectiveness assessment workshops have been used to adapt management. MPA effectiveness is measured at the upper management level.
11. Stakeholder Engagement (Tier 3)
Rationale: stakeholders are engaged in management planning through participation on the Advisory Committee. The committee includes hotel owners, tourism board, fishermen, the Fisheries Department, Forest Department, and the Town Councils for Dangriga, Hopkins, and Placencia participate. The advisory committee meets four times a year.
12. Financing (Tier 3)
Rationale: financial resources for the management of the SWCMR are assigned by the Fisheries Department. The annual budget is prepared by the Marine Protected Areas Coordinator. Funds for management of the marine reserves come from taxpayers and entry fees.
13. Outreach and Education (Tier 1)
Rationale: Little ongoing outreach and education activities exist. There is a need to have an educator on board. Target audiences include schools in the communities, fishermen and tour guides. Funding is needed to hire an educator to develop a plan and implement outreach and education activities.
14. Conflict Resolution Mechanism (Tier )
Rationale: no conflict resolution mechanisms are in place. Conflicts are resolved as they arise on a case by case basis.
15. Climate Change Resilience (Tier 2)
Rationale: knowledge of climate change resilience principles was acquired from a workshop.
There are specific guidelines for and best management practices to promote resilience. These practices include locating mooring buoys in sites not affected by bleaching and designating specific sites for snorkeling.
16. Alternative Livelihoods (Tier 2)
Rationale: A socioeconomic assessment was done with the preparation of the management plan. The advisory committee has suggested training stakeholders as site guides as opposed to tour guides, as some illiterate fishermen would want to go into tourism but could not pass a tour guide test.
17. Fisheries Management (Tier 2)
Rationale: A SWCMR fisheries-specific assessment has been conducted but no fisheries management plan has been developed. For five of the fish species captured at the reserve, specific catch per unit effort data is collected. Other data collected indicate that 80% of the
fishermen fishing in the reserve come from Sarteneja in the northern corner of Belize. The rest of the fishermen come from nearby communities like Hopkins, Dangriga, and Riversdale.
18. Integrated Coastal Management (Tier N/A)
Rationale: site is located distant from coastal influences.
19. Sustainable Tourism (Tier 2)
Rationale: an assessment of tourism activities and sustainable tourism options has been completed. There is need to assess carrying capacity at the site.
20. Organizational Management (Tier 2)
Rationale: MPA personnel are limited in terms of numbers. Four more staff on site and an educator are needed for the SWCMR. People with the necessary skills are available but funding is limited.
21. Partnerships/Coordination (Tier 3)
Rationale: the advisory committee is a formally coordinated group of the most important organizations involved in management.
22. Economic Valuation (Yes)
Rationale: An evaluation was done at the country level by the World Resources Institute. The information from an economic valuation of the resources would be useful to put in place zoning for swimming, snorkeling, and for compensation for anchor damages and for ship groundings.
23. Rapid Response Protocol/Team (Yes)
Rationale: emergency response protocols are in place for ship groundings and for invasive species like lionfish.
24. Ecosystem Based Management (Yes)
Rationale: ecosystem-based management is incorporated into management planning through selection of ecosystems as conservation targets.
25. Community Support (Medium)
Rationale: more support from local communities is needed. To get this support, it is necessary to inform communities of the rules and regulations. Even though tourist resorts support the MPA, support from the local layman is lacking.
26. Government Support (High)
Rationale: government support is adequate considering budget and staff limitations.
Management Capacity Priority Needs 1. Outreach and education
2. Enforcement
3. Partnerships / coordination
Priority Capacity Building Approaches
1. More staff 2. Training
3. Technical support
REFERENCES
South Water Caye Marine Reserve Website (2010) http://www.swcmr.org/