“Fi Wi Pride and Joy” (For Our Pride and Joy)
Rosemary Godfrey, Rare senior course manager at the University of Kent, visits a Pride campaign in Jamaica.
We know it’s not easy for communities around the world to find ways to use their own natural resources while protecting them at the same time. I am visiting Pride campaign manager Marsha Mason, who is trying to do just that. Marsha is passionate about helping her local community find solutions for sustainable use of its marine resources. I am here in Jamaica, with my Rare colleague Adam Murray, to see how they are getting on.
Marsha Mason in the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area.
Today was an eye-opening day. We’re in the heart of the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area (in the south of Kingston Harbour) with 15 local residents: fishermen, shrimpers, oyster harvesters, and water taxi operators. Marsha had inspired them to come together for a day to share knowledge about the environmental issues affecting them and to find possible solutions. Today was a long time coming. Marsha had spent many months building trust with the fishing community, so that they would agree to attend such an event. In the past, they said, others had made promises, but nothing had come out of it, and so Marsha had her work cut out to gain their understanding. She explained that this project was not about making false promises, but about the community taking control of its own future.
The day started quietly. There was just one person to start with. But one by one, participants filtered into the “Wet Lab” – a biological research station. Some seemed hesitant, perhaps not really knowing what to expect, and yet wanting to see what the day was all about. Pretty soon, they realized that they were not just there to listen, but to speak up, and to share their own ideas and experiences.
Discussions were prompted by several presenters. The first topic was the area’s infamous cultural and historical background – with colorful stories of pirates, sunken treasures, earthquakes and fires. Next, a presenter from the University of the West Indies highlighted the protected area’s special coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove communities. This is a protected area in which it is legal for people to use the natural resources, and today, the fishing community talked about how to harvest sustainably.
The ideas were coming thick and fast. They talked about how destructive fishing practices can affect them all – such as how the illegal practice of dynamiting fishing “mashes up all the coral” and kills all fish in the area – young and old – ruining future stocks. They pledged to speak out against those who dynamite. They talked about the importance of the mangroves in providing shelter from hurricanes and in acting as a “nursery” for young marine life – such as shrimp and fish.
Thus inspired, they swapped ideas on how to harvest oysters without killing off their mangroves, by picking them off, instead of snapping off the entire root on which they hang.
Fish, oysters, and sponges among the mangrove roots.
One shrimper, named Mr. Brian, told of how he drags seagrass onto the shore, and picks amongst it for shrimp – but makes sure he returns the left over seagrass to the water, so that juvenile shrimp and other creatures such as the sea-horse (the mascot for Marsha’s campaign) – do not perish.
The day ended with an environmental quiz, with questions such as “Can you name three threatened species that are found here?” and “Can you give an example of a sustainable fishing technique for each of the following: fishing, shrimping and oyster harvesting?” For extra points and a bit of fun, participants had to guess the species that Adam and I were trying hard to impersonate, such as puffer fish, manatees, and lobsters. I think I need to work on my turtle impression a bit, but they got it in the end. Adam’s cactus impression was unforgettable.
Prizes of prettily packaged food parcels, flowers, and certificates were awarded, and the participants left with smiles on their faces, promising to bring more of their friends for the next workshop.
