Research Projects
Lionfish : Management
Frameworks
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Montego Bay, 1982) generally requires Parties to take all measures necessary to prevent, reduce and control the intentional or accidental introduction of species, alien or new, to a particular part of the marine environment, which may cause significant and harmful changes thereto (Article 196).
The Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (Kingston, 1990): each Party must take all appropriate measures to regulate or prohibit the intentional or accidental introduction of non-indigenous or genetically altered species to the wild that may cause harmful impacts to the natural flora, fauna and other features of the Wider Caribbean Region (Article 12).
Agenda 21, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED; Rio de Janeiro in 1992), contains a number of proposals which urges States to take action to address the impact of alien species in a wide range of sectors, such as combating deforestation, managing fragile ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, protecting the oceans, seas, and coastal areas, and protecting freshwater resources
Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB; Nairobi, 1992) requires Parties to the Convention “to prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species”
(Article 8 h).
Targets
Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Strategic Goal B: “Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use”, Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
Strategies
National Legislation
Most of the legislation which refers to invasive species is embodied in other sectoral laws and acts:
Bodies
Specialized units within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to address the prevention and management of invasive species in agriculture in Barbados
Biodiversity Working Group of the Natural Heritage Department (NHD) - multi-sectoral committee, comprised of Government Agencies/Departments, academia and NGOs, which has biodiversity conservation and management as its primary mandate
| Strategy | Description |
| Preventative | measures put in place to prevent successful invasions (e.g. trade regulations, import & export permits, quarantine at ports of entry) |
| Public awareness | measures such as workshops, media outreach, production of brochures & leaflets, town hall meetings |
| Physical removal | the use of physical or mechanical means to remove species |
| Biological | the use of other organisms (e.g. mites and parasites) to control pests |
| Chemical | use of toxic substances to cause death |
Public awareness
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local media
- local radio, television, videos, newspapers and magazines were used to sensitize dive shops, fishers and the general public to the imminent arrival of lionfish in Barbados.
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telephone hotline
- a 24 hour telephone hotline was established in December 2011 to handle reports of lionfish sightings and answer questions from the general public
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webpages
- A Facebook page (Lionfish Barbados) was set up in 2011 as a means of information exchange and communication with the general public and the media. Subsequently, another Facebook page (Barbados Lionfish Project) has been established in 2015. These sites continue to inform not only the local population, but media houses, researchers and the general public from across the region.
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Workshops and trainings
- A mini-workshop on lionfish and safe handling practices was put on for fishers as part of the Fisher’s Forum (June 27, 2012) during the national Fishermen’s Week. The CZMU and Fisheries Division (FD) partnered in an initiative to train staff of the National Conservation Commission, lifeguards in particular, on lionfish handling, first aid and general information.
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Information brochures
- Several information leaflets have been produced and widely distributed among dive operators, fishers, hoteliers and made available to the general public during AgroFest 2012 and 2013 and through the partner websites and the Lionfish-Barbados Facebook page.
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Physical removals
- lionfish culling events and derbies
- development of a fishery
Local Articles of interest
