Just recently, while waiting in line at one of the commercial banks I overheard a conversation (between two gentlemen) directly related to my work, but I decided to ignore the conversation and not be ‘fass’. However, as the conversation continued I decided that as the Director of Fisheries and Marine Resources I had to interject and say something, as it is my duty to educate persons about fishing and the marine environment.

Healthy Finger Coral Reef at Sandy Island

One of the gentlemen was implying that the economy was bad and that things did not seem to be looking up for next year. To that, the other gentleman replied that Anguillians will survive. He went on to say that he remembered the days when he had to plant potatoes and that we will have to go back to agriculture. He further stated that he can spear fish and we have to go back to fishing also. It was at that point that I decided I had to get into the conversation. I started to say to the gentleman who mentioned fishing that as he has been diving for so many years he should know first-hand the changes that have been taking place in the marine environment, and that we cannot be fishing now the way we used to fish in the past. Before I could finish my statement though, I was rudely interrupted by the same gentleman. After making some derogatory comments towards me, he further stated that I just came here and I do not know anything. At that point there were some back and forth and as tempers were rising on both sides I decided to hush my mouth.

I stood there with my mouth shut as derogatory comments continued to be hurled at me and I listened attentively. A third gentleman entered the discussion and some valid and good points were raised in that spear fishing alone was not the problem, other problems included the dumping of garbage at sea, sewage pollution from coastal development, ‘ghost fishing’ by lost fish traps to name a few. I would have liked to continue in the discussion as they were saying exactly what I wanted to explain in that our marine environment has been degraded over the years, not only from fishing but from other activities as well. However, I could not say anything as tempers were already high and it was clear to me that their anger at some of the policies/decisions of the current government administration was being directed towards me, a senior civil servant.

Dead Elkhorn Reef at Sile Bay

We at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR) fully understand the changes that have taken place in the marine environment, and many of our fishers and other marine resource users are aware that things in the marine environment are not the way they used to be. However, a few persons choose to ignore the negative changes that have taken place and continue to employ traditional fishing practices which are a serious threat to the ecological well-being of our marine environment.

Prior to the mid-1990s, Anguilla’s marine environment and fish stocks were considered by visiting scientists to be in a relatively good state. However, recent studies conducted by DFMR staff have all indicated that our marine environment is no longer what it once was. Reports of these studies can be found at the DFMR web page on the Government of Anguilla’s website (http://www.gov.ai/department.php?id=5&dept=14). When compared to the early 1990s, our current coral reef fish numbers are estimated to be less than a third of those observed in the early 1990s. In addition, the percentage of hard coral cover on our reefs has declined by 40 – 50 %. These figures are staggering and they are not make-believe.

Taking scientific research out of the equation, I can remember as a little boy, growing up, there was much sea life in Forest Bay. I can distinctly remember the corals and sponges growing on the side of the wharf and the many small fish swimming around it. I can vividly remember healthy stands of seagrass beds and healthy colonies of corals growing from the wharf to the western end of the Bay which we called Long Bay. If you go back to this area now, what was once full of colour and life is now brown and empty. The colourful corals and the plentiful fish are no longer present. What remains is an empty ‘marine desert,’ lacking in sea life. The same can be said for Shoal Bay East where, as a little boy, I had the privilege to take a ride on Junior’s Glass Bottom Boat and what I saw then was many beautiful and large brain corals, different species of encrusting corals, healthy elkhorn coral stands, and an abundance of colourful reef fish. Such a scene no longer exists and what you see there now are a few brain corals and other coral species scattered throughout the reef, an abundance of algae (seaweed) growing on the hard structures which were once dominated by reef building hard corals, and a significant reduction in fish numbers.

Dead Elkhorn covered in algae in Shoal Bay East

Indeed, the state of our coral reef ecosystems is not what it once was and, using economic jargon, it can be said that our near shore marine environment and fish stocks are in a recession. All may not be lost but if something is not done about the situation now, it will only get worse and fall into a never-ending ecological depression. The current state of our near shore marine environment is not unique to Anguilla. Indeed the same thing is happening regionally and globally. What we need to ensure, however, is an almost unique and bold response to this dire situation.

Taking into consideration the uncertainties of global climate change, and its eventual impacts on our coral reef ecosystems, we have to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of other countries such as Jamaica, in the mid 1980s, where fishermen and fishing were singled out as the major - if not sole - cause of the problem. We know what some of the potential contributors are to poor coral reef health, namely: coral disease, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, sedimentation, coastal development, eutrophication (excessive nutrients from sewage and fertilizer), pesticide runoff, anchor damage, and other physical damage to corals such as physical removal and walking on coral reefs. What we, therefore, need to do is take a holistic approach to coral reef and fisheries management, which includes addressing all of the issues listed above instead of just trying to control fishing and the activities of fishers only.

The next government administration will be required to make some difficult decisions concerning the state of our near shore marine environment and fish stocks. In addition to the current review of our Fisheries Act and Regulations, some stringent measures may include a complete ban on most fishing activities within a 200 meter radius of the mainland and individual offshore cays. Furthermore, strict enforcement of our existing planning laws, and further strengthening of these laws, will be required. Where there is no legislation to deal with the potential contributors to poor coral health listed above, new legislation will have to be enacted and strictly enforced. If we want to protect our marine environment and fish stocks, the next government administration will need to find funds to purchase patrol vessels and other equipment and to provide training for persons whose responsibility it is to protect and manage these resources. These decisions will not be easy and, considering the current state of the economy, the funds will not be readily available. However, the current state of our near shore marine environment and fish stocks will not get any better unless these measures are taken. Our near shore marine environment has been in a recession long before December of 2007, and we are on course for a near shore marine ecological great depression if certain measures are not taken to reverse the trends and to stimulate the growth of our coral reef habitats and fish stocks.

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