Project Detail

The Preservation of Marine Ecosystems in the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary

The reef fish stocks in St. Mary have declined considerably and are now in a critical state. This decrease is noted in both number and size of fish and is largely due to over exploitation. The project seeks to reverse this trend by firstly setting up buoys which will demarcate the area that was established as a sanctuary by law on June 17, 2010 by the government of Jamaica. This will prevent fishing (except the removal of the invasive lion fish) in the protected area. The scope of the project will then be broadened to incorporate other stakeholders who are conducting conservation activities within the sanctuary and its buffer zone. These include preservation of three species of endangered sea turtles (hawksbill, green and loggerhead) and the restoration of coral reefs.

The vision of the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary is to create and manage a healthy bay that provides for all community members. Their mission is to increase biodiversity in Oracabessa Bay to improve livelihoods in the local community.

The grantee has developed a participatory approach to environmental conservation by incorporating the local community, the Fisherman's Cooperative and other conservation workers in the planning and implementation of project activities.

The project will be implemented under Biodiversity - OP 2

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Oracabessa Foundation

Country:

Jamaica

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5- Y1 (Jul 11 - Jun 12)

Grant Amount:

US$ 46,260.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 149,394.90

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 73,385.95

Project Number:

JAM/SGP/OP5/1/CORE/BD/11/06

Start Date:

12/2011

End Date:

2/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Replication of project activities

Additional funding from the Government of Jamaica through the National Environment and planning Agency (NEPA) has been secured to continue turtle conservation and to replicate the monitoring methods developed in Oracabessa in other locations around the country.

Capacity - Building Component

Community education (especially of fisher-folk who impact resources in the sanctuary) is ongoing. An educational video is used for sensitization purposes the hands-on involvement of stakeholders increases their environmental management knowledge

Gender Focus

Most of the project participants are male. This is due to the fact that the most involved group is the St. Mary Fisherman's Cooperative and fishing is a male dominated profession. However, one potential female warden has been identified and females participate in planning and educational activities

Linkages gef projects

N/A

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The Oracabessa Bay fish sanctuary is the natural resource on which the livelihoods of spear and boat fisher folk depend. However, fish stocks have been declining due to various factors. The project seeks to halt this trend in order to rebuild the stocks of native fish and eliminate the invasive lion fish in order to protect livelihoods and the strength of the coastal ecosystem. The project will also provide alternative livelihoods for fisher-folk whose activities were causing negative environmental impacts. They will be engaged in resuscitating surrounding reefs

Policy Impact

The area was established as a fish sanctuary by the Government of Jamaica on June 17, 2010. Several other sanctuaries in different parishes were also established by law. This project will contribute significantly to achieving the aims of the law and therefore make it effective in protecting and preserving environmental resources. This includes the prevention of overfishing, greater opportunities for breeding and the reduction or elimination of the population of the invasive lion fish. The project will also contribute to achieving Outcome 13 of the Jamaica Vision 2030 National Development Plan - "Sustainable management and use of environmental and natural resources". It will include the protection of 3 species of marine turtles (hawksbill, green and loggerhead) and the rebuilding of coral reefs.

Planning gef grant

The coral project is developing best practices on an ongoing basis.This project can be up-scale by propagating additional corals and expanding the area of reef that is replanted and tended to. More corals gardens would need to be trained to facilitate this. The sanctuary is in the process of setting up a proper scuba and workshop facility and purchasing twenty sets of scuba gear that will facilitate increased coral gardening work. The sanctuary has also purchased a compressor to be able to fill tanks; this will make coral gardening much more efficient. A tourism plan needs to be developed around the coral project in order to improve sustainability through income generation. The new scuba facility will enable the sanctuary to be able to offer scuba diving as an attraction. The best practices of the turtle project are being replicated by NEPA. It can be up-scaled by training and employing additional persons to monitor turtles, function as a game wardens and engage visitors. A tourism plan can be developed around the turtle project to improve sustainability.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The local community will be actively engaged in project planning, monitoring and enforcement of the protected area guidelines, removal of the invasive lion fish and rebuilding of coral reefs.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The nature of the project makes it ideal for public awareness activities. As locals work on the various components such as turtle nesting habitat and coral reef restoration training will be done on various biodiversity issues and how local action affects conservation and preservation globally

Project sustainability

The organisation will depend on grants and funding from the government of Jamaica to sustain the project in the short to medium term. However, for the medium to long term, the sanctuary plans to generate income through tourism and consulting to make the project more sustainable.

Notable Community Participation

The project seeks to include all stakeholders that impact the quality of environmental resources in the project area. The main participants are the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, Oracabessa Foundation, St. Mary fisherman's Cooperative, Golden eye and an individual environmentalist. Weekly community/stakeholder meetings are held at which plans are made, responsibilities assigned and feedback on project activities and activities in and around the fish sanctuary are discussed. Community education and sensitization activities have been going on for over a year. Therefore the stakeholders are empowered to play an integral and active role in project implementation

Planning non gef grant

The sanctuary has secured funding to continue tending to the out-planted corals and plant another 2000 pieces of coral.

Policy Influence

This project has not influenced government policy at this point. However, recommendation have been made in meetings and dialogue with persons from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries laws and regulations.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

This project involves the local fisher folk and so their resources are available to provide co-financing. They have also received in-kind contributions from a business owner to set up buoys that will demarcate the no-fishing zone. Partnerships with other conservation efforts in the sanctuary and its buffer zone will also create synergies that will increase the scope and impact of the project

Project Results

1.Latest National Envrionment Protection Agency Statisitics (2013) reveal that fish have increased in biomass by 300% and density by 1380%.

2. Larger fish such as snappers and groupers now being observed in the sanctuary

3. 10 metric tons o fbeach debris has been composted and buyers found to purchase same. Grantee projects that 20-25 tons willbe generated each year

4.13,000 sq. m of beach reclaimed for turtle nest and 154 of which 27 were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, and nests are currently on the beach.

5. It is projected that approximately 12,500 turtles were put back in the sea (2012) year 13,363 turles were put back to sea in 2011.

6. Partnershipis established with St. Mary Fishermen's Co-operative and one hotel property in the viciinity of the sanctuary.

7. 2,000 pieces of coral planted in coral nursery. NEPA statistics (2012) reveal 52% increase in coral cover and 24% decrease in coral cover

8. Surveillance Boat "The Enforcer" acquired and constantly patrols the sanctuary

More information can be had from their final report which is attached as a document.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Number of globally significant species protected by project 3

Biophysical

Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project 97

Empowerment

Number of CBOs / NGOs participated / involved in SGP project 3

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