Implementing the voluntary guidelines for the marking of fishing gear in eastern Caribbean small-scale fisheries: An assessment of gear marking provisions

Abstract

Managing abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a critical challenge that can be aided by the establishment of strong provisions for the marking of gear. This study presents an analysis of implementation of the VGMFG in Eastern Caribbean states. It provides a socio-legal review of this issues and an analysis of compliance and implementation gaps. Empirical data was gathered through interviews with 56 fishers in 2 jurisdictions as well as 6 national and regional fisheries management experts.Antigua and Barbuda's Fisheries Regulations provided the strongest support to implementation of the VGMFG, while neither Dominica nor Grenada had weak regulatory support for gear marking. Both fishers and fisheries managers in the region confirmed compliance and implementation gaps in the establishment of gear marking schemes, while regional fisheries experts highlighted the limited human, financial and infrastructural capacity of departments to effectively implement such schemes along with other ALDFG management measures.