Management and Conservation of Reef Biodiversity and Reef Fisheries: A Successful CLME Pilot Project in the Seaflower MPA Manejo y Conservación de la Biodiversidad en los Corales y su Biodiversidad Asociada: Un proyecto piloto exitoso de CLME en el AMP Seaflower Projet Pilote Gestion et Conservation de la Biodiversité Récifale et des Pêcheries De Récifs : Un Projet Pilote Réussi du CLME dans L'AMP de Seaflower

During 1.5 years, CORALINA conducted five major activities in order to maintain the coral reef biodiversity and its long-term productivity as outlined within the reef fish and biodiversity CLME pilot project, under the coordination of UNEP office in Jamaica. The first activity focused on the strengthening of Integrated Ecosystem Based Management by conducting three scientific expeditions articulating the collaborative work and support from more than five organizations. The expeditions provided information needed to better understand the reef complexity and its application in the integrated resource management. The second activity looked at the strengthening of collaborative enforcement mechanisms done by analyzing current fishing regulations and by training authorities and stakeholders in EBM and reef fish conservation; by seeking voluntary compliance through greater and more practical education and training; and by developing more collaborative inter-institutional work regarding enforcement and surveillance. Public awareness, education, and outreach were the focus of the third activity. Formal lessons and educational packages on key MPA species such as spiny lobster, queen conch, snappers, sharks, parrot fishes, and lion fish were generated. To complete this cycle, a regional “exchange of lessons learned” we organized with the participation of people from San Pedro Bank, Jamaica, the Haiti-Dominican Republic northern transboundary area, and Grenada, beside a broad participation from Colombia. Best Management Practices, the fifth activity, were demonstrated by building, deploying, and monitoring six modules made of empty queen conch shells with the participation of artisanal fishermen and the overall objective of increasing reef fish recruitment in the South-South-West atoll.