Project

Project title		Impact and amelioration of sediment and agro-chemical pollution in Caribbean coastal waters

Project number		R7668


Project leader	Callum Roberts	Lead organisation	Environment Department, University of York

Project period	01/06/2000 to 31/08/2003	Budget (£)	306,000

Project website

NRSP keyword	coastal zone, coral reef, environmental assessment, fish, health impacts, pesticide management, pollution, sediment, tourism

Country	Jamaica, Saint Lucia

Node: suite	Caribbean 3: Pollution amelioration - best management practices

Production system	Land Water Interface

Theme	4. Better information for pro-poor service delivery 8. Piloting new strategies for pro-poor NR management

Project summary	This project investigated the levels and impacts of pollution from land-based agricultural sources on the coastal waters of St. Lucia. Management options were identified to ameliorate sediment and agro-chemical pollution, and these were disseminated and promoted through appropriate networks throughout the Caribbean.


Background		Fishers and farmers are among the poorest people in the Caribbean. Their livelihoods are critically dependent on fertile soils and healthy marine ecosystems. Fish stocks in St Lucia and Jamaica are severely overexploited and fishers are suffering additional losses from reef degradation due to pollution. Improved land use and more effective and selective use of agro-chemicals would reduce costs for farmers, and thus improve their incomes, as well as reducing pollution at source and reducing the public health risks to farmers and coastal communities.

Purpose		To improve technical understanding and methods for the management of coastal zone habitats.

Outputs		Improved understanding of the effects of sedimentation on (a) coral reefs, (b) the efficacy of current management measures, and (c) on reef recovery from natural disturbances (storms). Economic estimates were made of (a) the value of reefs to the St. Lucian economy in terms of fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving tourism, and (b) the costs of sediment pollution. Estimates were made of the agro-chemical loadings and the fate of loadings in St.Lucia. Existing agricultural management practices were reviewed and evaluated. Options for pollution monitoring were identified. Management options were identified to ameliorate sediment and agro-chemical pollution, and these were disseminated and promoted through appropriate networks throughout the Caribbean.

Achievements		New knowledge and recommendations for ameliorating agro-chemical and sediment pollution were delivered to policy makers. With respect to agro-chemical pollution, project recommendations have been adopted by the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards for the Caribbean (CGPC). CGPC members are high-level policy makers from countries throughout the Caribbean, and are in a position to influence national action. A follow-on project (R8364, ‘Promoting an holistic approach to agrochemical management in the Caribbean’) will promote project findings related to agro-chemical pollution. With respect to sediment pollution, the project revealed the value of coral reef ecosystems to the economy in St. Lucia and to the livelihoods of poor fishing communities. It also documented the serious impacts that sediment pollution is having on reef integrity and amenity value for fishing and tourism.


Publication title	Type	Download

Coral reefs: Ecosystems in crisis?	Book / Book chapter

Effects of marine reserves on adjacent fisheries.	Journal article

Marine reserves and fisheries management.	Journal article

Agro-chemical pollution in coastal waters of St. Lucia.	Conference or workshop paper

Effect on the environment of agricultural practices for hillside agricultural production in Jamaica.	Conference or workshop paper

Guidelines to implementing successful marine reserves.	Conference or workshop paper

An interview with Dr Callum Roberts. Buckets of fish! A study of the effects of the SMMA on fish catches.	Newsletter article

The Soufrière Marine Management Area, St Lucia: A pioneer in networking marine reserves.	Newsletter article

Why is it so important to monitor the sedimentation rate in our ocean.	Newsletter article

Ecological and socio-economic impacts of dive and snorkel tourism in St. Lucia, West Indies.	Academic thesis

The impacts of multiple stresses on the replenishment of coral communities.	Academic thesis

How the marine reserves in the SMMA are helping fishers.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster

Impacts of marine reserves on fish catches in St Lucia.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster

Information Brief 1: Management of agro-chemicals for improved public and environmental health	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	77kb

Information Brief 2: The fate of agro-chemicals in the land-water interface in St Lucia and Jamaica: Environmental monitoring	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	65kb

Information Brief 3: The quantification and toxicity of agro-chemical imports into St Lucia and Jamaica	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	43kb

Information Brief 4: The on farm use of agro-chemicals and associated soil management and farming practices in St Lucia and Jamaica	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	40kb

Information Brief 5: Harmonisation of agro-chemical management in the Caribbean	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	66kb

Information Brief 6: Management options for the use of agro-chemicals	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	88kb

Policy and management brief 1: Impacts and mitigation of sediment pollution on coral reefs.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	139kb

Policy and management brief 2: Value of the Soufriere reef fishery.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	161kb

Policy and management brief 3: Value of coral reefs for tourism and costs of reef degradation.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	140kb

Policy and management brief 4: Funding coral reef management.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	156kb

Policy and management brief 5: Impacts of tourism on coral reefs and options for management.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster	170kb

Summary of agro-chemical activities and key findings.	Extension leaflet, brochure, policy brief or poster

Management of agro-chemicals for improved public and environmental health - A strategy for improved agrochemical use and management for the wider Caribbean.	Manual or guideline	1,016kb

Impact and amelioration of sediment and agro-chemical pollution in Caribbean coastal waters.	Final Technical Report (FTR)	285kb

A study of the Soufriere Fisheries.	Project report

Administrative procedures for agro-chemical management in Jamaica.	Project report

Availability and uptake of alternative sources of income for fishers in Soufriere, St Lucia.	Project report

Critical control points analysis and mechanisms for communication.	Project report

Economic benefits of coral reef tourism and maximising the potential for tourists to fund management of marine protected areas.	Project report

Impact and amelioration of sediment pollution on coral reefs of St. Lucia, West Indies.	Project report	531kb

Impacts of sedimentation on juvenile coral settlement, mortality and growth.	Project report

Management and development of coral reef tourism in St. Lucia.	Project report

Management of agro-chemicals for improved public and environmental health - A strategy for improved agro-chemical use and management for the Wider Caribbean.	Project report

Relationships between tourist perceptions and measured attributes of coral reefs.	Project report

Report 1: Importation, administration and harmonisation of agrochemical management in St Lucia, Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.	Project report	673kb

Report 2: Review of soil management and farming practices, including the use of agro-chemicals in the Caribbean, with particular reference to St Lucia and Jamaica.	Project report	534kb

Report 3: Toxicity review for agro-chemicals in St Lucia and Jamaica.	Project report	469kb

Report 4: The fate of agro-chemicals in the land-water interface, with reference to St Lucia and the wider Caribbean.	Project report	1,715kb

Report 5: The fate of agro-chemicals in the land-water interface, with reference to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.	Project report	2,734kb

Report 6: Environmental survey of agro-chemicals in the land water interface of St Lucia.	Project report	1,863kb

Report 7: Database review and user requirements analysis prepared for the Coordinating Group of Pesticide Control Boards of the Caribbean	Project report

Report 8: Environmental monitoring options	Project report	188kb

Report 9: Management options for the use of agro-chemicals in the environment.	Project report	413kb

Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs.	Project report

Snorkeller behaviour on coral reefs.	Project report

Soil management and agro-chemical use in St. Lucia.	Project report

The effects of human-induced pollution on the replenishment of coral reefs.	Project report	507kb

The effects of human-induced sedimentation on juvenile coral assemblages.	Project report

The effects of marine reserves on reef fish populations and catch composition.	Project report

The effects of sedimentation on coral larval settlement.	Project report

The fishery effects of the Soufriere Marine Management Area 1995/6 to 2000/1.	Project report

The interacting effects of sedimentation, fishing and hurricanes on coral reefs: A long-term study in St. Lucia, West Indies.	Project report

The rate and trajectory of recovery of fisheries adjacent to marine reserves.	Project report

Uptake promotion/communication strategy for agro-chemical elements.	Project report

The effects of human-induced pollution on the replenishment of coral reefs.	Dataset, Database, Software


Expert	Role	Organisation at time of project

Callum Roberts	Project leader	Environment Department, University of York

Everton Ambrose	Collaborator	Coordinating Group of Pesticide Control Boards of the Caribbean

Natalie Boodram	Collaborator	Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

Hyacinth Chin Sue	Collaborator	Pesticides Control Authority

T Dasgupta	Collaborator	Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies

Peter Edwards	Collaborator	Centre for Marine Science, University of the West Indies

Peter Espeut	Collaborator	Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation

Nicole Esteban	Collaborator	Marine Resources Assessment Group

Brandon Hay	Collaborator	Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation

Rufus Leandre	Collaborator	Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, St Lucia

Andrew Lewis	Collaborator	Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

Guy Mathurin	Collaborator	Pesticides Control Boards, Ministry of Agriculture

Christopher C Mees	Collaborator	Marine Resources Assessment Group

Craig Perue	Collaborator	Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies

Julius Polius	Collaborator	Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, St Lucia

S Seddon-Brown	Collaborator	Marine Resources Assessment Group

L Simpson	Collaborator	Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute

George Warner	Collaborator	Centre for Marine Science, University of the West Indies

Dale Webber	Collaborator	Department of Life Science, University of the West Indies

Kai Wulf	Collaborator	Soufriere Marine Management Area


Organisations	Acronym	Role

Environment Department, University of York		Lead

Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute	CARDI	Collaborator

Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation	CCAM	Collaborator

Caribbean Environmental Health Institute	CEHI	Collaborator

Centre for Marine Science, University of the West Indies		Collaborator

Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies		Collaborator

Department of Life Science, University of the West Indies		Collaborator

Marine Resources Assessment Group	MRAG	Collaborator

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, St Lucia		Collaborator

Natural Resources Systems Programme	NRSP	Funder


Relation	Project number	Project title

Extension of	R7111	Review of currently available information on pollution of coastal waters by sediments and agro-chemicals: Identification of sources and transport mechanisms and influence of land use management in the watershed.

Previous to	R8364	Promoting an holistic approach to agrochemical management in the Caribbean

Contributes to	PD127	Coastal management research network (COMARENet)