Introduction

Continental shelf ecosystems have high importance for the continental countries of the Wider Caribbean Region. They support important shrimp and groundfish fisheries (Phillips et al. Chapter 15) and snapper fisheries on their outer slopes (Heileman Chapter 13). There are also important linkages between the former fisheries and the many coastal and estuarine lagoons and wetlands that occur in these countries (Yáñez-Arancibia et al. Chapter 17). They support livelihoods (McConney and Salas Chapter 7) and provide critical ecosystem services (Schuhmann et al. Chapter 8). Continental shelf ecosystems have been degraded by many human impacts of both marine and land-based origin (Sweeney and Corbin Chapter 4; Gil and Wells Chapter 5).

This synthesis chapter presents the outputs of a group process aimed at developing a vision and way ahead for ecosystem based management (EBM) for continental shelf ecosystems in the Wider Caribbean, using the methods described earlier (Fanning et al. Chapter 1). In terms of structure, the chapter first describes a vision for continental shelf EBM and reports on the priorities assigned to the identified vision elements. It then discusses how the vision might be achieved by taking into account assisting factors (those that facilitate achievement) and resisting factors (those that inhibit achievement). The chapter concludes with guidance on the strategic direction needed to implement the vision, identifying specific actions to be undertaken for each of the vision elements.

The vision

The occupational breakdown of members of the Continental Shelf Ecosystems Working Group reflected the diversity of affiliations present at the EBM Symposium and included governmental, intergovernmental, academic, non-governmental and private sector (fishers and fishing industry and consulting) representatives. With guidance provided by the facilitator, this diverse group of participants was asked to first address the question of “What do you see in place in 10 years time when EBM/EAF has become a reality in the Caribbean?” This diversity provided for a fruitful and comprehensive discussion which is summarized in Table 24.1, in terms of the key vision elements and their subcomponents, and in Figure 24.1, which illustrates the level of priority assigned to each of the vision elements.