Marine Stakeholders meet to discuss environmental protection
Andrew Wilkins, the Standpoint, Tuesday Sept 18th, 2007
Because so many residents of the Virgin Islands need a healthy marine ecosystem to make their livings, representatives from Conservation and Fisheries Department held a meeting to discuss environmental concerns and to introduce a book encouraging boaters to be aware of what is required.
Planned to be ready for boating season in December, C&F is developing a book that includes all the laws, regulations and best management practices when it comes to marine conservation. The book is directed to tourists who do not have an understanding of how fragility of the territory's marine ecosystem.
"We can teach everybody here, but for someone who has never been here, they might not know what reefs are and know that they shouldn't be anchoring on it" said Shannon Gore a maine biologist with C&F.
The Moorings is funding the first publication of the book, Gore said, as a condition of approval for their expansion. Most of the information is already available, she said, it is just a matter of putting it all together. At this time, there is no cost estimate of the book, Gore said.
The meeting held Thursday September 13 at C&F office was also an opportunity for the marine stakeholders to express their opinions concerning marine conservation. Many spoke of threats to the environment from new developments and disappointment with how the current laws are enforced. Gore said that many people have concerns about the environment but are afraid to say anything.
Annie Muirhead, owner of Trimarine Boat Company , said it was a good meeting and that Gore has the right idea when it comes to marine conservation.
Even though the meeting brought together people from many different areas associated with the marine industry, she said they all had problems with the developments at Beef Island and Scrub island.
"Everybody was of one voice: protect the environment and keep these developments from going forward" Muirhead said.
A representative from the BVI Heritage and Conservation group (BVINCG) shared notes from the meeting with the Standpoint.
it seems many are frustrated with the state of environmental enforcement in the BVI, but C&F revealed some new things that offer hope for change.
Sewage is the number one threat to the environment, according to BVIHCG notes. Sewage pumpout stations will be included in the Moorings expansion and at Mainsail on Scrub, but sewage from BVI residents continues to be pumped into the sea untreated.
The last boating industry study was conducted in 1981, and the same problems remain: sewage, anchoring and fishing. C&F is working on a complete geographical survey of the BVI, and the boating industry needs to be looked at again, an attendee said.
New legislation in the works that would close loopholes in the current law and bring the National parks Trust and C&C into an Environmental Ministry, on the same level as the other ministries, according to the representative.
In the new law, 30% of each marine habitat will be protected, and in each area some activities will be prohibited.
Several people said that the development at Scrub Island should be shut down because they are not following the management plan they agreed to, the BVIHCG representative wrote. Fines for environmental damage are not large enough to stop developers from making mistakes, they continued, and no fines can replace a healthy environment.
An alternate plan for Beef Island was introduced that would preserve its natural resources as a tourism asset. The plan would include low-density tourist development, snorkel trails, hiking trails, boardwalks, bird watching and other amenities that would protect the eco system found there.
A C&F official encourage residents to read the VIP manifesto and hold them to the promises they made concerning environmental protection. It was also said that C&F does not have the manpower to enforce the regulations in its place.
Gore said that anyone with a stake in the marine environment of the BVI is welcome to be a part of the next meeting. Visit www.groups.yahoo.com and search for bvinrs. Membership requires a brief explanation of why they are a stakeholder in the marine ecosystem.
Meeting called by Conservation and Fisheries for the goal of open communication between government, non-governmental agencies and the boating community by improving communication and awareness of local laws, regulations and best management practices pertaining to marine conservation.
Meeting held at Conservation and Fisheries conference room, Thursday Sept 13th, 2007
I have gathered together some of the information that was handed out at the meeting, and then added some general ideas and issues that were discussed. Nothing pertaining to a particular person, just general thoughts.
Objectives:
Strengthen public and private partnerships through stakeholder meetings on the compilation and production of a Marine Awareness Guide for the BVI.
Produce a colorful and clearly written guidebook that includes maps depicting fisheries protected areas, proposed marine protected areas (sensitive areas), recommended anchorages for larger vessels, hurricane holes, proper use of NPT moorings, fisheries laws and regulations (open/closed seasons, applying for a fishing license etc.) and educational material on the importance of protecting marine life (including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, marine mammals, turtles, etc) and whatever else the other agencies come up with...
Improve communication between the different agencies and boaters in order to pass information pertinent agencies in terms of reporting illegal activities, adverse impacts, rare species sightings and happenings (including strandings, early stages of coral bleaching etc)
Provide general safety information relating to waves, currents, severe weather and potentially dangerous marine organisms.
Companies and agencies represented at meeting:
Conservation and Fisheries
National Parks Trust
Department of Disaster Management
British Virgin Islands Tourist Board
Charter Yacht Society
BVI Marine Association
VISAR
BVI Fishermans Association
Virgin Islands Environmental Council
British Virgin Islands Heritage Conservation Group
Moorins/Sunsail
Trimarine
Promenade Cruises
Peter Island Divers
Caribbean Marine Surveyors
SCUBA Shots BVI
Sail Caribbean
Shannon Gore of Conservation and Fisheries started by introducing and passing out a very rough draft of a Marine Awareness Guide (MAG) that they are working at putting out. This will be a yearly handbook, that they see as educational and will be available to everyone coming into the territory. The funding for the first years issue anyways, is part of the Moorings/Sunsail expansion agreement. IE: Moorings is paying for it the first year. Who knows after that. They are looking for help with ideas for it as well as an appropriate name for the guide (Marine Awareness Guide is too close to the Marine Guide, a commercial publication that already comes out yearly in the BVI)
A general guideline of what is being included in the Guide is:
1) Introduction and explanation of booklet
Dedication
2) Marine Habitats of the BVI.
What they are, why they are important, what is found in the BVI, where to see them, threats, your part, fun facts and fort more info.
a) Coral Reefs (dive locations?)
b) Seagrass Meadows
c) Beaches
D) Mangroves
e) Salt Ponds
3) Marine Species of the BVI
a) Fisheries
b) Marine Mammals
c) Sea Turtles
d) Sea birds
4) Marine related laws of the BVI
Fisheries Laws:
a) Fishery Protected Areas
b) Marine Protected Areas
c) Licensing
D) Conservation Measures, open and closed seasons, Moratoriums on size minimum and limits, prohibited export, prohibited fishing methods, pollution,
e) National Parks Trust Laws and Regulations
5) Best Conservation Practices
a) use of moorings
b) Anchoring (ports authority), general, larger vessels and in rough weather
c) Diving and snorkeling
d) Provisioning for the eco friendly boat
e) Sewage
f) Feeding the fish
6) Ocean Safety
a) Marine organisms to look out for
b) Fish poisoning
c) Lifeguards, Beach safety
d) Contact information who do you call when?
Some other areas that people thought should be commented on include the following:
A section of flamingoes, where the moorings are on each island, what to take and not take for "souvenirs", the need to revive fish before releasing (ie marlins, if not revived before being released, the sharks normally kill them anyways. Another trivia fact there is that the Marlins that used to be caught years ago were around a thousand lbs, now they are about three hundred lbs and we are taking them while they are making new little marlins, which is harming the counts and size), WHERE to report violations to, and the need for enforcement and out of office hours monitoring when things happen. It was also suggested that a spanish version would come in handy and that the tourist board in Puerto Rico could take it around to the yacht clubs etc there when they did there calls.
Shannon mentioned that she had a list of photos that she needed for the publication as well as "fun facts" on the BVI. This ties in the first year, with the International Year of the Reef and this being the BVI's contribution to it. It was also mentioned that we need to educate the children coming, as they are sponges, and will make sure the adults do what they are supposed to, so we should be talking to them. We should have children's ambassadors for conservation and perhaps a contest for naming the marine guide. 12 BVI children are going at the end of October to a summit of the ocean conservatory and we could start there. NPT mentioned that Jost Van Dyke had great success and just by doing a few days programs over there is started a new youth environmental group. It was also suggested that it did not have to be done on a terrritory level either, that each person or company or group could privately work with a school or youth group and involve them in the environment in some way.
B. Lettsome spoke of the need for a closer relationship between stakeholders. The only way to be successful it by working together, and as the environment goes, so goes the BVI. The last major boating industry study was done in 1981 and that it needs to be updated and they are looking at it for this year. They are also looking at C and F or finishing and upgrading a complete Geographic Survey of the BVI this year. Some major issues affecting the BVI back in the 1981 study were degradation of the environment due to anchoring, sewage, fishing, and they raised red flags then, and they still have not been addressed. That it was time for us to address it through dialogue. That on land and water, sewage waste is still the #1 environmental problem in the BVI. Moorings is putting in a pump out station at their expansion for their boats, and SCRUB Island will also have a pump out station for their boats. The question, especially on Scrub, was exactly what would be done with the sewage once it was collected?
In 1981 Hodges Creek Marina was the #1 anchorage in the BVI. 50% of the anchorages on Tortola back then are now marinas and where exactly are people supposed to cruise to once they get here? From marina to marina?
In a soon to be sitting of the house, there is comprehensive environmental legislation coming into law, this will basically put National Parks and Consevation under an Environmental Ministry that will be elevated to have the same status of other ministries. A lot of the environmental loopholes will now be closed.
The National Parks is expanded the protected areas, there will be at least 30% of EACH different type of marine habitat that will be protected. This means that you will not be able to fish in some areas, dive in some, anchor in some etc etc.
There was discussion on when you have an ownership in the environment you have a responsibilty. A couple people brought up that Mainsail on Scrub Island will have a direct line out to the deep sea fishing and Marlins and we had to put laws in effect to protect that. Whoever spoke up, really spoke against all the developments going on, Scrub Island, Beef Island, Oil Nut Bay, Smugglers Cove. Many thought that Scrub Islands development should be shut right down, that they were not following the agreed upon environmental plans and they were moving too much earth that was going into the sea and silting up. There was some discussion on which government agency could issue a stop work order, and they have already been issued compliance letters. That one of the problems with Oil Nut Bay was "out of sight, out of mind" if you don't see it you don't know what is going on and many people in the territory have no way of seeing what exactly is going on on other islands, and the people out on the water around the territory had the responsibility of letting others know what was going on. There was also some discussion of these "environmental fines" that were written into the development agreements were just a drop in the bucket to these big time money people and they just figure it into their costs, while the environment is priceless.
It was mentioned by several that we all needed to talk with one voice and we could still stop some of these developments. This led to discussion on the change of government. A lot of people were unwiling to publicly speak up against some of these things, as they would be targeted by government. B. Lettsome encouraged everyone to get hold a copy of the Virgin Islands Party Manifesto. It was pointed out that one of the things they ran on was environmental issues and the people elected them on it, so it was up to us to keep them to their words.
An alternate idea for Beef Island that Conservation and other proposed is making most of Beef Island a National Park with snorkel trails, hiking trails, boardwalks, bird watching, eco villas, airport hotel, historic sites, marine resources and eco tours. Preserve what we have before we lose it all.
Everyone agreed who was in enforcement, or tourism, that they are often asked or told by government to turn the other cheek. Some examples of this are when the tourist board questions how all these people in the 5 star resorts are going to get to the island, that there is not enough airline seats, or when the Puerto Rican Navy raft up right on the beaches and the locals complain, they are asked to look away as they provide a large amount of money. It was agreed that the enforcement issue was lacking. The point of conservation and fisheries people going up to boats who are fishing illegally or something with their shirt and tie on and no guns saying "please don't" to the boats who had guns was also mentioned.
The tourist board apparently has no overarching policy for tourist development. They are working on a new complaint/information database for the tourist board, and perhaps when it is done, C and F can modify it for their own uses in monitoring the complaints, and even if we cannot enforce all the laws, having the information will give us ammunition in the long run to get them enforced. The number one complaint is floaties in the water! C and F does have somewhat of an enforcement policy in place, they can then contact pollution department, marine police, fire, VISAR etc. It was also suggested that C and F loves information, and we could all have a stake in getting our guests to fill out questionnaires on the BVI. The tourist board does have some of those figures.
Some discussion on who has priority when there is priority sensitive areas? The local boats? The ones who come into the territory for the week? How do you prioritize where there is too many boats/people for an area?
The fisherpersons have concerns on the sewage that is being pumped on the reefs, and also people who are cutting off or opening fish traps and illegal fishing. It was suggested that maybe part of a guide book could be the areas where more fish traps traditonally to be. There also seems to be a lot of tussles over the areas where fishermen traditionally seine for fish, and perhaps this could be turned to a positive, where it is something we promote, "come see the traditional fishing practices at work" It was pointed out that the BVI has a much more rich life in turtles, whales and pelicans, that some of them cannot even be seen south of Anguilla.
Another area of concern that C and F brought up was the amount of boat work that is being done on docks in the marina and that it had to be held in check. That everyone could not just start sanding fiberglass.
The USVI has an Environmental Group, the Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators that is very effective at getting information out to everyone in a timely fashion, and perhaps this is something that we are working towards here.
I do have a copy of the 1981 Boating industry report and I will work on getting it up electronically for those who are interested in reading it. It was agreed by all that we would set up a "group" by email that would keep everyone informed on developments, and areas of concern, and try to connect with the other stakeholders in the industry that were not at the meeting to start everyone working together toward common goals, even though we all have divergent issues. That without an environment many of us would not be here in business any more. It was also mentioned by some that the last government was very hard on them keeping their businesses in the BVI and they had seriously thought of leaving and were hoping for positive changes with the new government. That if there was a marina in every harbor where exactly would these tourist go? There was also discussion on the large mega yachts anchoring practices and why it would be so beneficial for the environment and reef if they had designated anchoring areas instead of just coming into the territory for a week and destroying 200 years of coral growth.
If anyone thinks they should be added to the list of participants in this partnership, or has suggestions, please feel free to get in touch with Shannon Gore at Conservation and Fisheries.
Contact information for the group is info@bvihcg.com
Webmaster email is webmaster@bvihcg.com
