Ecological assessment of the marine ecosystems of Barbuda, West Indies: Using rapid scientific assessment to inform ocean zoning and fisheries management

Abstract

To inform a community-based ocean zoning initiative, we conducted an intensive ecological assessment of the marine ecosystems of Barbuda, West Indies. We conducted 116 fish and 108 benthic surveys around the island, and measured the abundance and size structure of lobsters and conch at 52 and 35 sites, respectively. We found that both coral cover and fish biomass were similar to or lower than levels observed across the greater Caribbean; live coral cover and abundance of fishery target species, such as large snappers and groupers, was generally low. However, Barbuda lacks many of the high-relief forereef areas where similar work has been conducted in other Caribbean locations. The distribution of lobsters was patchy, making it difficult to quantify density at the island scale. However, the maximum size of lobsters was generally larger than in other locations in the Caribbean and similar to the maximum size reported 40 years ago. While the lobster population has clearly been heavily exploited, our data suggest that it is not as overexploited as in much of the rest of the Caribbean. Surveys of Barbuda’s Codrington Lagoon revealed many juvenile lobsters, but none of legal size (95 mm carapace length), suggesting that the lagoon functions primarily as nursery habitat. Conch abundance and size on Barbuda were similar to that of other Caribbean islands. Our data suggest that many of the regional threats observed on other Caribbean islands are present on Barbuda, but some resources—particularly lobster and conch—may be less overexploited than on other Caribbean islands. Local management has the potential to provide sustainability for at least some of the island’s marine resources. We show that a rapid, thorough ecological assessment can reveal clear conservation opportunities and facilitate rapid conservation action by providing the foundation for a community-driven policymaking process at the island scale.

Shifted baselines and the policy placebo effect in conservation

“…These perceptions are largely confirmed by ecological data. Barbuda has live coral cover as low as 2.6% (Jackson et al, 2014) and the decline in coral cover during 2005–2008 for the island was estimated to have been 12.7% (Ruttenberg et al, 2013). Across both Antigua and Barbuda there have been documented declines in reef cover and health (Francis, 2010).…”

“…In Montserrat the volcanic eruption and continued sedimentation destroyed large portions of reef off the southern and eastern coasts (Ferguson & Daniel, 2015), consistent with interviewees’ responses. Forty per cent of interviewees described grouper and parrotfish as declining; ecological assessments report low abundance of large fish species around Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda (Francis, 2010; Ruttenberg et al, 2013; Ferguson & Daniel, 2015). The decline in invertebrate populations on the islands is also mirrored by interviewee perceptions: > 50% of interviewees described lobster as declining and 40% described conch as declining.…”

“…The decline in invertebrate populations on the islands is also mirrored by interviewee perceptions: > 50% of interviewees described lobster as declining and 40% described conch as declining. Declines have occurred in landings of spiny lobster on Barbuda (Peacock, 1974; Albuquerque & McElroy, 1995) and conch populations are low on Barbuda compared to other Caribbean islands (Ruttenberg et al, 2013).…”

Challenges for the Island of Barbuda: A Distinct Cultural and Ecological Island Ecosystem at the Precipice of Change

“…The contemporary economy of Barbuda is largely driven by its abundance of marine resources and tourism [12][13][14]. Currently, the primary marine export is spiny lobster [3].…”

“…Catastrophe struck Barbuda when a category five mega-hurricane, Irma, made landfall in September 2017, destroying many of the island's residential buildings and displacing the island's inhabitants, who were relocated to Antigua [13]. Since the hurricane, there has been great motivation to rebuild and develop in more contemporary integrative ways to manage the island using sustainable and ecologically focused development practices [13,17]. This is important because, with restoration and development, many of Barbuda's natural resources will require improved planning and management.…”