Community Sustainable Management of La Caleta National Marine Park, Dominican Republic

8/8/2019 Community Sustainable Management of La Caleta National Marine Park, Dominican Republic

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COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF

La Caleta National Marine Park


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Background

by Ruben E. Torres and Vinicio Ulloa

La Caleta National Marine Park is located 22kilometers from Santo Domingo, next to the townof Boca Chica and just three kilometers from theLas Americas International Airport . The waters ofthis park are rich in coral reefs and reef fisheshave represented food and income for those wholive in La Caleta and its vicinity.

The Dominican Government established it as anational park in 1986. Since then it has been arecreational area for Santo Domingo residents as

well as tourists visiting the country. Scuba divers,in particular, enjoy the clear waters and its coralreefs as well as multiple ship wrecks which arenow populated with marine life.

The increase in the number of American andEuropean tourists in Boca Chica has increased the

demand for fish and shellfish from hotels and restaurants and has also affected illegalfishing in the protected waters of the park. This is affecting legal fishing, which is carriedout outside the park, due to the decrease of the fish population, and is endangering thelivelihood of the fishermen and their families.

The drop in the fish population at La Caleta is alarming, but there is hope. Studiescarried out in protected marine areas throughout the world show that reef fishpopulations can be recovered in a period of 4 to 6 years if fishing regulations and itsenforcement are effective. If fishing around La Caleta is reduced and park regulationsare observed, the fishermen that provide services to divers in the aquatic center will beable to obtain net income equivalent to 90% of their present net income. Recovery ofthe fish population at La Caleta will generate benefits for the communities of La Caletaand Boca Chica, as well as for the tourists and the marine ecosystem. Fishermen haveunderstood La Caletas importance as a tourist destination and have started tocomplement their income providing services to divers in the park.

Reef Check Dominican Republic Foundation (RCRD) for several years has beenworking at La Caleta National Marine Park hand in hand with the Ministry ofEnvironment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic under the auspices ofthe Environment and Natural Resources General Law (64-00).


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The first step was thesigning of a cooperationagreement to support theparks management which

consisted of monitoringthe health of the zonesreefs, training users,improving the infra-structure for generalvisitors and for scubadiving, implementation of abest practices, andsupervision and protectionof the area permanently to

ensure fulfillment of existing regulations. Protection includes establishment of a buoy

system to properly delimit the spaces for boats, in a way that they do not affect the coralreefs.

Once the agreements period elapsed, ReefCheck requested the Ministry to allow ReefCheck to co manage La Caleta National MarinePark which resulted in the approval and signingof a joint management agreement whichappointed a board and delineated theresponsibilities of each for the benefit of thepark and its surrounding community.

RCDR is taking action to turn this park into arole model of sustainable protected areamanagement in order to replicate it in othersimilar areas of the Dominican Republic. Fundscollection through several international agenciessuch as the Inter American Foundation, theSmall Subsidies Programme UNDP, UNEP-GCFI, the Dominican Alliance for SustainableTourism, the British embassy in DR, and localinstitutions has provided good support to start the project.

What problems does it solve?

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a studywhich shows that: 19% of the marine fish stocks are overexploited, 8% are depleted,although the situation has been relatively stable for the past 10-15 years, according toa world report regarding fisheries published in March 2009. Of the 27% of world fishingresources that would be overexploited or depleted, 20% is moderately exploited and 1%


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is being recovered after having been depleted, stated FAO. And 52% rank as fullyexploited and are producing catches that are at or close to their maximum sustainablelimits.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) states in its most recent study published in the

Dominican Republic that: Overfishing has hurt the countrys fishing. The reportestimates that income from the reefs and fishing which is dependent on the mangroveshas been reduced to 60% in the last decade. This trend threatens the livelihood of manyfishermen in the Dominican Republic and it is expected to continue unless overfishing isstopped.

Unsustainable fishing has turned into very precarious the once abundant population offishing resources in the waters of La Caleta National Marine Park.

Up to now, fisheries have provided food to hundreds of thousands of Dominicans andforeigners. However, because of poor implementation of close seasons during the

reproduction period andthe use of fishingpractices that harm thefish captured, even whenreturned to the sea, theseimportant fishingresources have beendrastically depleted.

Biodiversity, as well asfishing resources, isthreatened, thusdiminishing the divingtourism potential of thePark. The diving industry

provides economic benefits to local communities. This income has been decreasing,which in turns results in the community continuing its fishing activities that worsen thesituation.

The methodology adopted by RCDR shows the ecological and economic benefits thatconservation of these protected marine areas represent. With the implementation ofeconomic alternatives such as a center of aquatic activities, a restaurant, and gift shop,it is intended to stimulate local economy so that communities receive benefits whileprotecting the park so that it may cater to an increased number of visitors.


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Community management of La Caleta park

Arising from a support agreement for itsmanagement and with the active participation

of several institutions, the work methodologyhas been set up as follows:

Coral reefs health studyThe reefs are the main resource to protectwith the creation of this important protectedmarine area and a source of livelihood for theLa Caleta community. They constitute ashelter for thousands of species ecologicallyand economically important.

Integration of La Caleta communityWorkshops were held with direct and indirect users (divers, fishermen, park rangers,environmental police, DR navy, community members) to make them aware of thechanges in the management of this important protected area. Also, lectures were givenregarding management of marine protected areas, sustainable fishing, buoys, andclimate change.

Delivery of the diving flagIn a simple ceremony filled with emotion the diving flag was delivered to the La Caletacommunity, represented by the parks administrator, the directors of the educationalcenter Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and the La Caleta School, community leaders,

and a representation of fishermen.

Buoy placement in the ParkDemarcation of the marine boundaries of the La Caleta National Marine Park wascompleted. The demarcation buoys clearly indicate the areas within and outside thepark that facilitates implementationof the various uses of the park andexisting regulations. A system ofmooring buoys was installed in thediving sites of the park. These buoysbesides physically identifying the

diving spots prevent vessels fromdropping anchors, which constituteone of the main impacts on coralreefs, destroying the resources theyare supposed to enjoy.


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Buoys maintenanceThe buoys system periodically receives maintenance to ensure optimum performanceand condition.

Incentive for the use of sustainable fishing practices

An essential part for the good development of the process is counseling and training ofthe community. Support was given to the fishermen to form the Production and WorkCooperative of the La Caleta Fishermen and Tourism Service Providers(COOPRESCA), and training was provided insubjects such as the environment and managementof protected areas. COOPRESCA, thanks to thetraining provided, has implemented sustainablefishing practices, as an alternative to presenttechniques, which for decades have harmed the fishpopulation of the area, and therefore the Park itself.This process has resulted in larger fish populations.

Incentive to change the economic model of thefishermens communityFishing represents the livelihood of the localcommunity, in many cases generating the neardeterioration of the local fishing grounds. A processof change has been initiated in the manner ofbenefiting from the Parks resources, both fromfishing as well as from scuba diving visitors, toensure sustainable, long-term benefits. This newapproach is even increasing the fishermens profitsas the fish population is recovering.

Building lobsters casitas to be placed in the ParkAfter the exchange trip with Mexican fishermen, oneof the most interesting experiences was the lobstersustainable fishing through the practice of buildinglobsters casitas. These are structures used as anartificial refuge for lobsters.

This system, developed in Cuba several decadesago, is presently used throughout the Caribbeanregion as a sustainable way of fishing lobster. Itconsists of flat cement structure of approximately 1.5x 1.2 meters in dimension elevated from the ocean floor by two lateral legs 12 cm high.

These lobster casitas are placed in areas away from the coral reefs to reduce fishingpressure in them, and represent an easy, sustainable and highly productive manner oflobster fishing. The community participates in the building of the houses as well as the


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jatigos(nylon bags) which result in less damage to the lobsters. Fishermen are trainedin the use of the casitas and jatigos.

Results

Thanks to the communitys participation and

the institutions support, Reef CheckDominican Republic initiative carried out inLa Caleta, achieved the following results.

Placement of mooring buoys at thescuba diving areas, which minimizedthe impact of boats anchors on thezones corals. They also serve todelimit clearly the areas within andoutside the par, which facilitatesimplementation of the various uses of

the park and implementation ofexisting regulations. The buoys wereobtained through Reef Check and theCoop provides maintenance.

Organization of educational sessions, which contributed to train local fishermen inthe use of sustainable fishing practices and its long-term benefits. During thesesessions other subjects were discussed, including management of protectedmarine areas, sustainable fishing, installation of mooring buoys and climatechange.

Monitoring by the community of reefs and the marine species. The community

became the main actors and beneficiaries of the conservationist efforts.

Implementation of refuges or little houses for lobsters as a sustainable alternativefor its fishing.

Use of this work methodology provided the following benefits:

Economic benefits

The increasing number of divers and fishes is beginning to show. Confidence is returning to the Park.

Ecological benefits

The number of fish in the no fishing zones is significant, divers have noticed. The pressure on the reefs is less, because areas were specified for sustainable

fishing, also difference is noted outside the Park since the reef acts as ahatchery.


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Cultural benefits

Unsustainable fishing was eliminated by 90% and monitoring is constant toprevent intruders from entering the area.

The use of spear guns is prohibited by law in this, and all marine protected areasof the country.

Global Interest

The Reef Check Dominican Republic Foundation is part of a global network of non-governmental organizations, implementing conservation, education, management ofcoastal and marine resources projects in over 90 countries and territories. The ReefCheck program brings together community groups, governmental agencies, educationinstitutions and businesses.

Reef Check is a component, community based, of the Global Coral Reefs MonitoringNetwork (GCRMN) and cooperates with governments reports. Reef Check is memberof the International Coral Reefs Initiative (ICRI) and the International Coral Reef ActionNetwork (ICRAN). Reef Check provides data and develops systems for the interactivemanagement and monitoring of reefs through ReefBase, the global database for coralreefs. Reef Checks national and regional training programs are provided throughout theworld each year.

For further information visit:

Fundacion Reef Check Republica Dominicana: www.reefcheckdr.org Status of Coral Reefs of the World: www.gcrmn.org

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. FAO Department ofFishing and Aquaculture, Rome, 2009:http://www.fao.org/news/story/es/item/10270/icode/


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Valoracin de los Ecosistemas Costeros yMarinos en la Repblica Dominicana:http://www.wri.org/project/valuation/caribbean/reefs

Contact

Reef Check Repblica DominicanaRubn E. Torres, Ph.D., Director

Address:Prol. Fantino Falco 5, PiantiniSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic

Telephone:809 227-4409

Email:[email protected]

Web:www.reefcheckdr.org


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Promoters of the National Cataloguefor human development in the Dominican Republic

The UNDP ART GOLD Dominican Republic program supportsthe Dominican Republic Governments strategies to reducepoverty and the promotion of democratic governability startingwith a holistic management of territorial division, strengtheningof local organizations of the public and private sectors and civilsociety, stimulating territorial competitiveness and promotingemployment and sustainable income, including the formation of

human capital with emphasis on the most vulnerable groups.

IDEASS(Innovation for Development and South-SouthCooperation) is an international cooperation program supportedby UNIFEM, ILO, UNDP, and UNOPS. IDEASS promotes at theinternational level innovations which have demonstrated thatthey contribute to human development. IDEASS works incollaboration with the national agencies responsible for scienceand technology and contribute to the transfer of knowledgeand the support of the innovations authors.

Community Sustainable Management of La Caleta National Marine Park, Dominican Republic

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