Oceans on the edge - case study

St Lucia: sustainable management of coral reefs

Souffriere marine management area (SMMA)

Sustainable management

 - balance between ecosystem conservation and helping locals make a living

Why it needs to be managed

 - increase population means more fishing

 - some people have little money

 - harvest mangroves for charcoal, puts pressure on local resources 

 - overfishing to meet the needs in Asia

 - blast fishing damages reef

 - damages future generations as young fish are usually caught

 - increase in tourism means more waste which damages reef

 - forests cut down for plantations

 - heavy siltation

Management strategies in St Lucia

 - fishing priority areas

 - marine reserve areas

Reef needs…