Perceptions of the Western Tropical Atlantic and Caribbean stakeholders regarding their role in achieving sustainale fisheries

Marine fisheries and seafood provide important economic and social benefits for communities in the Western Tropical Atlantic Region, including food security, livelihoods, and tourist activities. However, these resources have experienced a global decline due to overfishing, pollution, and warming oceans. To help halt and reverse this decline, interventions should prioritize the threats that are identified as most severe. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) presents itself as an opportunity to enhance ocean sustainability with “A sustainably harvested and productive ocean ensuring the provision of food supply and ocean resources” as one of its seven major societal outcomes. This paper addresses the proposed research priorities identified during the workshop for the UN Decade Working Group V which agree with the findings from two previous workshops conducted during 2017 and 2019 by the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Over 300 scientists, policymakers, managers, government officials, representatives from tourism, maritime sector and communicators discussed regional priorities, and recognized the urgent need to expand stakeholder and partnership engagement. The respondents generally agreed on the major gaps within science and governance; however, managers and stakeholders view science as a critical source of information for the decision-making process. Respondents recommended that science should be inclusive of various knowledge types across sectors, including community and traditional knowledge. Furthermore, science quality assurance requires review processes that are impartial, reliable, and transparent. Ultimately, science-based management and policies require effective scientific input which must be achievable. There are good opportunities over the next decade to improve the sustainability and governance of the region’s fisheries resources. However, ensuring that fishers, resource users, civil society, and scientists work together with national and regional government resource management agencies will be the key for the development of successful governance structures overseeing these resources.