Maintaining Fishing Traditions and Island Lifestyle in the Caribbean Regions
The Blue Halo Initiative, a project spearheaded by marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, is making strides in promoting sustainable ocean management in Curaçao and Montserrat. This initiative, which focuses on scientific ocean zoning, aims to strike a balance between ecological protection and sustainable human activities such as fishing and tourism.
By mapping marine habitats and uses, the Blue Halo Initiative designs zones that safeguard biodiversity while allowing responsible use of ocean resources. This approach has proven successful in the Caribbean, resulting in improved marine biodiversity protection, enhanced fisheries management, and increased community engagement in ocean stewardship.
The Blue Halo Initiative's plans have helped reduce overfishing and habitat degradation by clearly defining areas for conservation and sustainable use. The project supports marine conservation, climate resilience, and community-based ocean governance, leading to tangible benefits such as healthier coral reefs, more sustainable fisheries, and strengthened local economies dependent on ocean resources.
The initiative, which was pioneered in the Caribbean by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, has also facilitated better policy and stakeholder collaboration to sustain ocean health for future generations. Johnson, a Scripps alumna and executive director of the Waitt Institute, is leading the effort as part of Waitt's Blue Halo Initiative.
In Curaçao, the Blue Halo Initiative's goal is to keep the island's reefs, some of the healthiest in the region, ecologically and economically valuable. The organization partners with local governments and the community to develop science-based coastal-use policies that will replenish fish populations and restore healthy ecosystems.
Johnson's academic research in Curaçao involved working with fishermen and the local fisheries agency to redesign fish traps with escape slots, reducing the unintentional take of juvenile and ornamental fish by 80 percent without affecting fishers' incomes. This approach demonstrates the initiative's commitment to sustainable practices that consider the needs of both the environment and the local community.
The Waitt Institute's work in Montserrat coincides with a broader community rebuilding effort due to ongoing volcanic eruptions. Stephanie Roach, a Scripps Oceanography alumna and Waitt Institute project manager, will join the Blue Halo project, along with other Scripps students and local experts.
Preserving Caribbean cultures, which are deeply tied to the ocean, is an important part of Johnson's work. The Blue Halo Initiative takes a similar approach to her PhD research, developing ocean management solutions by including as many points of view as possible.
For more information on the Blue Halo Initiative and its work in Curaçao and Montserrat, visit https://www.waittinstitute.org/. The organization's efforts underscore the importance of sustainable ocean management for the health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them.
The Blue Halo Initiative, led by marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, employs environmental science to create sustainable ocean zoning, balancing protection of marine biodiversity with human activities like fishing and tourism. This initiative, exemplified through its successful projects in the Caribbean, encourages sustainable living by promoting healthier coral reefs, more sustainable fisheries, and strengthened local economies, all while fostering better policy and stakeholder collaboration. Furthermore, the organization encompasses home-and-garden values by partnering with local communities to develop science-based policies that replenish fish populations and restore healthy ecosystems.
