Montego BayMarine Park

History of a Marine Protected Area

1970: SCUBA community begin conservation lobby1983: Media highlights degradation of Jamaica's reefs – Independent SCUBA sector tanks

1986: Minister of Tourism evaluates the management, administrative and funding requirements of the park.

1989: Pilot Project for National Marine Parks1991: Montego Bay Marine Park declared1992: Trust established to conserve marine resources

The Montego Bay Marine Park Trust

Mission To protect and restore a healthy Montego Bay ecosystem for the betterment of Jamaica and the world.

Current Programmatic Focus Environmental Education Monitoring & Enforcement Administration

Past/Ongoing Programs Scientific Research Environmental Clean-ups Buoy Deployment/Maintenance Fisher livelihoods development/retraining Fisher permitting

Administration/Management

Board of Directors Chairman Blaise Hart - Proprietor, Good Hope Plantation

Vice-Chairman Robert McKinney –Rose Hall Developments Treasurer Ian Chandley - Barnett Estates Limited Director Dr. Geoffrey Williams –NRCA Board Member Director Orville Grey - Environmental Manager, MBJ Director Dr. Roy McGregor – Surgeon, Internal Medicine Director Nosaikman Wedderburn - Fishing Coop Director Shaun Henriques, Esq. – LawyerStaff Manager Admin/Accts RangersVolunteers

Montego BayMarine Park

Current Park BoundariesNorth: ~100m Depth Contour South: Average High Tide MarkEast: Rum Bottle BayWest: Tropical Beach

Details Area

Bogue Lagoon Fish Sanctuary

Established 1979

Primary Issues Largest remaining mangrove wetland in Montego Bay

Fishing - Development – Conservation?

Habitat Protection

Details Area

“Airport Point” Fish Sanctuary

Established: July, 2009

Primary Issues Fishing vs Tourism Demarcation Compliance Traditional Use / Access

Natural Resource Management

New Fish Sanctuary Declared - July 2009Management Agreement with NRCA & Fisheries Division Zoning Plan revision underwayPatrolsBuoy deployment & maintenanceOutreach & Education

Community Involvement

Beach Cleanups Educational Presentations

Social Media

Environmental Education

Schools/Students Average 10 students/week (SBA).

Average 8 school presentations/month

Local Newspaper Western Mirror

45 weekly articles published ~15,000 copies circulated weekly

International Audience Website generates over 3,000 unique visitors/month

Environmental Compliance

Pollution

Urban Infrastructure

Alien Invasive Species

What’s inside?

World Bank (2001) OAS (2009)

Tourism US$250-650 million per annum

Fisheries US$ (-2) – 1.5 million per annum

Employment? Tourism - 15,000+Fishing - ~350

Tourism US$65+ million/annum

Fisheries US$1.2 million/annum

NEPA (2009)Valuation exercise underway

What’s at stake?