Conservation on Island Time
Conservation on Island Time
Stakeholder Participation and Conflict in Marine Resource Management
The marine environment and the resources it provides are of primary social, cultural, and economic importance to the Bahamas, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Caribbean region. Bahamians are dependent on the vitality of marine ecosystems to support tourism and fishing industries, and traditional livelihoods. In response to increasing stress on coastal environments from development, fishing, and tourism, as well as growing pressure from international and Bahamian NGOs working in the country, the Government of The Bahamas has accelerated the pace of conservation over the last 50 years. Conservation interventions led by local and national NGOs have pushed for changes in fisheries laws, the creation of national parks and protected areas, and discussion of environmental issues in communities throughout the islands. More often than not, the rush to conserve threatened natural resources has been met with resistance and conflict among resource users and conservationists. The two case studies presented in this chapter, one from the spiny lobster fishery and another from a community-based harbor management initiative, provide an opportunity to compare examples of the levels of conflict that may be encountered during conservation interventions, and what best participatory practices may be used to transform existing conflict or conflict that emerges during a participatory process, so that a longer-term sustainable conservation outcome can be reached.
Keywords: Bahamas, fisheries, conflict, tourism, spiny lobster, community-based
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