Long-Term Perspective Looks Like "Luxury Only" for Coral Reef Fisheries

People depend upon coral reefs for income and/or food and coral reefs depend upon healthy fish communities to support healthy ecosystem function. Especially in the Caribbean, intact reef fish communities help keep algae in check, helping corals to thrive. For sustainability to exist, both the needs of the coral reef and those of the 500 million people who rely on reefs for sustenance and livelihood— must be met.  This talk will explore how expanded perspective, across time and in how we think about fisheries, can help us determine if such sustainability is possible.  First, we must extend our time frame of examination of fisheries impacts beyond the reach of traditional ecological studies.  Fishing in the Caribbean is centuries old, but coral reef ecology dates back only a few decades.  A historical analysis of Jamaica’s fisheries from first human contact to the present day reveals declines in fish, turtle, and manatee populations and changes in fish communities under relatively low fishing pressure compared to modern day. Data collected from unconventional resources across archeological, historical, and ecological disciplines shows that simple artisanal fishing gear was enough to deplete favorite species and shift pressure to smaller and less palatable species by the early 20th Century. Seemingly benign changes in fishing gear, such as from traps using rattan to those constructed with chicken wire, were associated with major declines in reef fish populations. The implication is that, at least for reefs like Jamaica, fisheries are not sustainable.  This seems especially true given the additional stress coral reefs now face from climate change, pollution, and disease. But what happens if we re-imagine what comprises coral reef fisheries? This talk will also explore examples of innovators from across the world who are establishing alternative sources of income based on coral reefs, ranging from eco-tourism to coral farming. It will also look at what new types of business and marketing models (such as community supported fisheries) might help drive sustainability in reef fisheries. These stories come from the frontier of creative entrepreneurship and represent an alternative approach to problem-solving in the field. The talk will conclude with this section, based on anecdotes of still developing ideas, with the hope of inspiring a more creative discussion on the future of coral reef fisheries.