Outreach and Education Advisory Panel (OEAP) Report to the Council 157th CFMC Regular Meeting Condado Vanderbilt Hotel San Juan, PR August 23 – 24, 2016

Activities update Consumer’s Responsible Fish and Seafood Consumption Campaign. Presentation at 13th International Coral Reef Symposium in Hawaii Consult restaurant owners, chefs and fish market administrators to classify the species most demanded by their clients. Develop outreach materials about the species identified: biological information, fishing areas, management measures in place, etc. Objective is that the consumers, responsibly, get to know the species in their plates and select substitutes for those that are prohibited. Identify possible funding to design, print and distribute final products. 10/29/15

Activities update María del Mar López & Bill Arnold presentation at 13th International Coral Reef Symposium in Hawaii: A CASE STUDY OF ECOSYSTEM-BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN PUERTO RICO: THE IDEAL AND THE REAL on the lessons learned from the Public Hearings on ABT decisions. 10/29/15

A Case Study of Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management in Puerto Rico: the Ideal and the Real Photo: García-Sais et al. 2012/CFMC María del Mar López-Rivera and William S. Arnold, NMFS Southeast Regional Office St. Petersburg, Florida NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE v v 4

Why it was not successful Managing ABT within a broader ecosystem context required socio-economic considerations, preventing managers from achieving the ideal... had to go with the real Competing interests – multiple user groups Fear of loss of resource access Perception of lack of background information to justify management changes Lack of interest to compromise or address trade-offs within the ecosystem 5

What to improve? Lessons learned Science – ensure the scientific evidence supports the proposed management actions; address lack of information Examples: Conduct biological assessments of the performance of closures Spawning info: when, where, species, status of species Habitat use Gear-benthos interactions Enforcement Connectivity 6

What to improve? Lessons learned Communications - Science is essential but not enough. - Communication is equally important. Address information disconnect with constituents (failure to get the scientific information to them) Make sure we are communicating with ALL user groups Most improve cross-cultural communication How is information disseminated? Managers (we) are not getting their ideas across Need to find a BETTER way to communicate complex issues 7

What to improve? Lessons learned Public Involvement Make constituents part of the process from the start. Enhance the existing mechanisms by which fishermen can contribute their knowledge and perspectives into the science and management process (Tonioli and Agar 2009). Support and encourage active leadership positions. Seek feedback. Decision-makers should strive to better understand the cumulative impacts of regulations on the socio-economics. 8

Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) Caribbean Chapter

St. Thomas/St. John & St. Croix Town Hall Meeting

Town Hall Meeting Conclusions St. Thomas/St. John 9 – 12 member steering committee recommended. Best dates to hold workshop would be during months of May – July. (July has yearly registrations for commercial fishers) St. Croix Not ready to hold a full MREP workshop. Best to send one or two people to mainland workshops or Puerto Rico wokshops.

Puerto Rico Begin preparations for 2017 workshop Agenda will be kept the same, except for a few changes based on past participants recommendations. Venue is planned to be the same, Hotel Villa Parguera in Lajas. Timing for workshop will likely be around the first two weeks of February (before Lent).

Other issues for O & E: Recommendations for Council’s consideration 1. Orientation meetings with DAPs on issues being discussed by the Council before their regular meetings. 2. Council should consider having at least a part time staff dedicated to communications. 10/29/15

Thank you for your support 11/26/13 Alida Ortiz Sotomayor