Montserrat's Future Leaders Unite to Champion Marine Conservation

The Candidates for Conservation event, held on October 16, 2024, was a collaborative effort between the Fish 'N Fins team, The Montserrat Turtle Project, the University of Exeter‘s Dr. Nicola Weber and PhD candidate Mr. Jack Wiggins, and the Marine Conservation Society UK’s, Mr. Amdeep Sanghera, with the support of the Government of Montserrat and the Montserrat Tourism Authority, represented by its CEO Mrs. Rosetta West-Gerald. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from all three political parties in Montserrat and an independent candidate, to discuss the critical issue of marine conservation on the island, with a focus on turtle conservation.

Conservationists, Mentors and Montserrat’s Marine Ambassadors share local knowledge of Montserrat’s marine turtles and their importance in balancing the ecosystem.

Although Montserrat are yet to formally sign on to the Blue Belt programme, The Honorable Minister Buffonge, the Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Lands, and the Environment, expressed the government's vision for Montserrat's marine conservation efforts through the Blue Belt Programme and the types of marine issues they work with. "The Blue Belt Programme aims to assist the UK Overseas Territories in protecting and enhancing ocean health to halt biodiversity loss, enable sustainable growth, ensure climate change resilience, and connect people with the natural environment," stated Minister Buffonge. He outlined several possible fisheries and ocean management initiatives, including mariculture, artificial reef construction, and the establishment of marine protected areas.

The Honorable Crenston Buffonge, Minister of Agriculture, Housing, Lands, and the Environment, expressed the government's vision for Montserrat's marine conservation efforts through the Blue Belt Programme. The Blue Belt Programme aims to assist the UK Overseas Territories in protecting and enhancing ocean health to halt biodiversity loss, enable sustainable growth, ensure climate change resilience, and connect people with the natural environment," stated Minister Buffonge. He outlined several initiatives under the Blue Belt, including mariculture, artificial reef construction, and the establishment of marine protected areas.

However, Veta Wade, the Founder and CEO of Fish 'N Fins, emphasized the need for a more community-centered approach. "The Candidates for Conservation event was an opportunity to inform and energize our supporters around the importance of locally-led, community-based marine conservation initiatives. It allowed us to bring forth a dialogue about how we at Fish 'N Fins approach our work and the values that guide us. Importantly, it was a chance to share our perspective on how community members and policymakers can be most helpful and equitable in

partnering with conservation leaders and their organizations."

Veta Wade, Founder and Executive Director of Fish ‘N Fins Inc reiterated the organization’s focus …empowering citizen scientists for turtle conservation through training, structured snorkeling activities, marine data collection, analysis and reporting.

Veta Wade highlighted the key gaps in the government's approach, stating, "While the government vision presents some promising initiatives, the focus seems to be more on government-led programs rather than empowering and engaging the local community. We must ensure that the community is actively involved in the planning, implementation, and decision-making processes and that their traditional ecological knowledge and practices are incorporated into conservation efforts."

Mrs. Aldean Williams, the event organizer, praised the strong turnout and level of engagement from Montserrat's future leaders. "We were thrilled to see such a constructive and insightful discussion among the participants. The event demonstrated a shared commitment to protecting Montserrat's natural heritage and the island's vital marine ecosystems." Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with several participants suggesting that

the event should be brought to the Montserrat Parliament to ensure that these important conservation issues remain a priority. Others described the event as "fun and instructive," highlighting the importance of bringing together diverse stakeholders to find collaborative solutions.

Engaging with political leaders and community partners will drive meaningful change and ensure a sustainable future for Montserrat's marine ecosystems. Candidates from the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP), United Alliance (UA), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and independent candidate Delmaude Ryan pledges support to Marine Conservation on Montserrat.

The Candidates for Conservation event underscores the growing momentum and

community-wide support for marine conservation in Montserrat. By engaging with political leaders and the broader public, the organizers hope to drive meaningful change and ensure a sustainable future for Montserrat's marine ecosystems.

For more information about the event and Montserrat's conservation efforts, please contact Veta Wade at veta@vetawade.com or Mrs. Aldean Williams at support@aquafishnfins.com.

More photos from the Candidates for Conservation Workshop, October 14, 2024. Fish 'N Fins Clubhouse, Little, Montserrat are shown below:

Montserrat has started ocean governance and turtle conservation since the 1980s, this was continued in recent times with the Blue Halo Project and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Recommendations. The findings of the University of Exeter Research lead us towards important actions, i.e. to update legislation for turtle conservation and approve and implement the Montserrat Turtle Action Plan.

Following a discussion on the negative impacts a large-scale beachfront hotel at Little Bay would pose on the marine ecosystem, participants stated that local knowledge, social and environmental assessments, and the Physical Development Plan were some of the resources available to policymakers to combat negative impacts.

Veronica Dorsett Hector stressed the importance of NGOs like Fish N' Fins Inc presenting the Turtle Action Plan to Parliamentarians to ensure greater understanding of marine turtles and their habitat on Montserrat.