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Draft Final Report, 19 th July, 2012 25.5 MARINE RESERVE Objective The objective of the project is to improve the management of Montserrat’s coastal zone by providing a greater understanding of the marine resource among the local community, together with the conservation and management issues implicit in increasing usage. Context Tourism depends absolutely on maintaining the integrity of the terrestrial and marine environment. While the terrestrial environment is in the process of being better managed through the Centre Hills Management Plan, the marine environment remains largely unprotected. The reef and marine system faces a number of threats, particularly from fishing activities and sedimentation. In some areas, a rapid deterioration has occurred in the condition of the reef (e.g. south of Woodlands Bay and from Woodlands bay to Little Bay. This is attributed to volcano-related sedimentation and fishing activity on the remaining healthy reefs, which are now beginning to threaten the health of the marine system at Little Bay, Rendezvous Bay and locations further north. To halt this decline and to sustain the reef environment, many countries are designating Marine Protected Areas which can, when well-managed, conserve diversity, sustain fisheries, and promote ecologically sensitive tourism. Montserrat is one of the few territories in the Caribbean region that does not at present have a marine park or reserve (the others being Haiti and Puerto Rico). The importance of a healthy marine environment to the tourism industry is well recognized. Both the diving and yachting sectors have become increasingly demanding in their requirements for a high level of environmental quality, with many prepared to pay a premium to experience an attractive, clean, pollution free and well managed coastal and underwater environment. Montserrat has the potential to offer all these attributes but will be much improved by taking steps to address conservation and management issues, including the establishment of marine protected areas and zoning of activities, and the conduct of marine environmental awareness programmes. Content The aim should be to establish an integrated coastal zone management programme for the island. However, this is a long term programme. In the short-term, a marine reserve needs to be established. Opinions differ on where this should be located, but seem to favour the recommendation of a DFID-supported study carried out for the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) ∗ that the area from north of Rendezvous Bay to Marguerita Bay for the marine reserve, based on a zoning system comprising three main zones: fishery zones dedicated to fishing and stock enhancement; marine reserve zones dedicated to education, research, conservation and recreation, with no fishing or collecting allowed in the reserves; and a marine preserve dedicated as an environmental safety zone to protect reefs and fisheries, with no fishing, diving or other activities in the preserve apart from monitoring by park personnel. ∗ Characterization of Caribbean Marine Protected Areas: an analysis of ecological organizational and socio-economic factors (CANARI, July 2001). MONTSERRAT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2012 – 2022 102
Draft Final Report, 19 th July, 2012 Establishment of the marine reserve will entail the following measures: • Preparation of plan, designation of area; • Marine zoning to accommodate different uses and activities; - fishing management; - reef marking and establishment of dive and possible yachting moorings; - solid waste management; - effluent discharges; - impact of sand mining; and - recreation and tourism. • Marine environmental awareness campaign comprising - media coverage (radio, television and newspaper); - publications and audio-visual productions (production, distribution and presentations); - schools programme (promotion of the marine reserves, involvement of students and teachers); - dive and snorkel programme (awareness, reef/fish identification, litter patrols); and - community awareness programme. • Appointment of Programme Manager; and • Recruitment of Technical Assistance (marine and development specialist; marine biologist/coastal planner coordinator; and scuba dive specialist). Cost Estimates Pilot Marine Protected Area EC$ 125,000 Identification and documentation of dive sites and moorings: EC$ 125,000 Marine Environmental Awareness Campaign EC$ 50,000 (materials, publishing, workshops, interpretation, etc.) Technical Assistance/Programme Manager/EC$300,000: Action and Management The Department of Environment and Fisheries Department to spearhead the establishment of the Marine reserve in consultation with MTB, MNT and other public sector and private sector stakeholders. Support to be sought from research/aid agencies to develop management and operational guidelines for marine conservation and to implement the marine environmental awareness campaign. 25.6 HISTORIC SITES AND ATTRACTIONS – RESTORATION OF OLD SUGAR MILL Objective To enhance and promote Montserrat’s cultural and heritage tourism through the restoration of an old sugar mill to full working order, at a site to be determined. Context One of the features of the Montserrat landscape is the large number of abandoned or disused sugar mills that dot the countryside as reminders of the once dominant role played by sugar cane cultivation in the island’s economy and life. Together with other sites of historic interest, these are listed in Appendices G (1) and G (2) of the draft PDP, based on research carried out by Professor John Cherry of Brown University and his team. MONTSERRAT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2012 – 2022 103
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