The GCFI/NOAA Peer-to-Peer Program
Introduction
Convened by the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) in partnership with NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program (NOAA CRCP) and in association with the Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM), the peer-to-peer workshops address needs identified in the assessment conducted in 2011 ‘A Management Capacity Assessment of Selected Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas in the Caribbean‘.
Caribbean MPA Management Capacity
Based on the ecological significance of their coral reefs, their level of commitment to international agreements, evidence of investment in marine protected areas, and linkages to U.S. coral reef ecosystems, 10 countries were selected by the CaMPAM Executive Team to participate in the assessment: The Bahamas, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dutch Caribbean (Saba & St. Eustatius specifically), Honduras, Grenada, Mexico, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The MPA management agencies in each country were invited to identify specific MPA sites to be included in the assessment, assisted by criteria such as biological value (high), conservation viability (high), and degree of threat (medium to low). A total of 27 MPA sites participated in the assessment, and this follow-up activity on enforcement is targeted at the participating countries and sites. The findings of the capacity assessment can be found here.
Participants in Peer-to-Peer Workshop on Sustainable Finance Strategies for MPAs in the Caribbean (Mexico, October 30-31 2011)
Participants in Peer-to-Peer Workshop on Building Compliance and Enhancing Enforcement for MPAs in the Caribbean (Florida Keys, August 28-31 2012).
Missing in the photo are Jeannine Compton-Antoine, Jody Placid and
Peer-to-peer learning
These workshops bring together coral reef managers from around the region to exchange information, share experiences and examine best practices with their peers. Such peer-to-peer learning seeks to provide participants with the opportunity to learn from each other’s experience in facing common challenges, and enables us to share knowledge and successful practices across borders.
The first of the peer-to-peer workshops addressed sustainable finance strategies for MPAs and was held during the 64th GCFI meeting in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. For more details see the section on Sustainable Financing.
The second workshop brought together MPA Managers and Head Rangers to focus on the core topic of MPA enforcement and building compliance with MPA regulations. For more information please see the sections on Enforcement and P2P II.