An Overview Of Our Solution
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Oceans/Coasts
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: North America
Problem
Describe the problem
The Placencia Producers Cooperative recognizes the continued decline of marine commercial species and seeks alternative mari-culture options for its members. The goal of this current project, entitled “Sustainable and Environmentally Responsible Production of Seaweed (Euchuma isoforme and Gracelaria spp) in the marine areas adjacent to Placencia Village†is to reduce fishing pressure in and around the Belize Barrier Reef System-World Heritage Site (Gladden Spit and the Silk Cayes Marine Reserve and Laughing Bird Caye National Park) sites near Placencia Village and to revitalize the Placencia co-op. The specific objective to meet this goal is the establishment of ten seaweed farms near Placencia, with fifteen fisher-folk trained to establish and maintain these farms.
Biodiversity Impact
This project addresses the decline of commercial fishing stocks in and around the Southern Belize Barrier Reef System World Heritage sites. The peak year of co-op productivity was 1986 when there were 250,000 pounds of whole fish, 75,000 pounds conch, 40,000 pounds lobster tail (although they did have 40,000 pounds lobster again in 1996), basically it’s been dropping ever since (pers. comm. Mr. Carlton Young , Sr. who has been the Chairmen of the Placencia Co-op for 11 consecutive and 26 years total). Other data (AGRRA fish transects 2009) confirm a lack of large fish in Southern Belize: out of over 1000 fish surveyed at two protected areas (Laughing Bird Caye and Silk Cayes) and one non-protected area (Ranguana), only two were greater than 40cm. This trend in the lack of large fish indicates the scarcity. The decline of traditional commercial species stocks in recent decades may be attributed to a multitude of factors including over-harvesting, increased numbers of fisherfolk, increased population and tourism (demand), pollution and global climate change. Because of the decline of marine commercial species the co-op itself has declined in productivity, active members and relative community importance. When grown on rope ‘beds’, seaweed is a renewable resource that can be harvested continuously from the original ‘seed stock’.
Solution
In addition to the above, in scouting and mapping the wild abundance of these seaweed species (with a research permit), we have noted they are extremely scarce due to unsustainable harvest in recent years. The permanent seaweed farms established with both species (Euchuma isoforme and Gracelaria spp) will serve as new seed stock for future farm expansion. Newly incorporated into PPCSLƒ??s monitoring is a tally of all marine species associated with the seaweed farms; data from these monitoring trips will be available shortly as they have just begun last Saturday, 29 October 2011. // Each ƒ??farmƒ?? is 100 ft (30.48m) x 100ft =10,000ft2 or 929m2. This can be rounded up slightly due to the anchor ropes at four ends, and space between farms (950-1000 m2). There are currently ten farms with a total area of ~9500-10,000 m2, which equals approximately one hectare. PPCSL has funding for materials for an additional ten farms in the life of this project (Feb2013),which would raise the area to two hectares.
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 1 year // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? Yes // This project is funded by an 18 month grant from the Community Management of Protected Areas Conservation Programme (COMPACT) in the amount of $90,000BZD (USD$45,000.00). COMPACT also funded a USD$5000.00 Planning grant which included the in-country market study. Lisa Carne, a local marine biologist and consultant, is the Project Coordinator (and was for the Planning Grant as well). It is hoped this trial project will successfully seek future aid for expansion to other fishing communities (Hopkins and Monkey River Village) in Southern Belize.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
The Placencia Producers Cooperative Society Ltd was formed in 1962 and at the height of their processing activity (approximately 20 years ago) had over 100 members and 20 employees, many of them women. Today, productivity has declined primarily due to scarcity of commercial product, and there are currently only 30 active members and two full time employees. In 2006, their total net profit was $9,490.00BZD. Because the original seaweed ‘seeds’ stay in the farms even after repeated trimmings, this is a sustainable, renewable activity that will generate income by the stakeholders. Based on the market study provided by Belicana Consulting and Development Ltd (BCDL) seaweed products currently generate $510,800.00BZD gross annually. Notwithstanding a potential lowered unit price with increased supply, BCDL projects a potential market increase with active marketing from the Placencia Producers Cooperative to $574,700.00BZD per annum By including processing of the seaweed, this project will also provide training opportunities and three new jobs for single mothers in the village, which will boost both productivity and the local image of the co-op. Specifically, the new hires will be trained in processing, packaging both the dried and processed product, label making and records keeping. // The Placencia Producers Cooperative is a registered entity under the Cooperative and Credit Union Act. The society has a seven-member committee that is responsible for establishing management policy and supervising the management and administration of the cooperative. It is also a member of the Belize Fishermen’s Cooperative Association, the umbrella organization for fishing cooperatives in Belize.