Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions
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Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions
Barbuda and the Blue Halo Initiative
1. What is the Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative?
2. What will the outcomes be?
3. How can the people of Barbuda benefit from this Initiative?
4. What is the timeline for the Initiative?
5. Why was Barbuda chosen as an Initiative location?
6. How does the Initiative address climate change?
Waitt Institute
7. What is the Waitt Institute?
8. Who is heading the Waitt Institute’s role in the Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative?
9. What is the Waitt Institute’s relationship with the Government of Antigua & Barbuda?
10. Does the Waitt Institute fund other types of projects in Barbuda?
11. Does the Waitt Institute provide funds to the Barbuda Council and Government of Antigua &
Barbuda?
Science
12. What is the current condition of Barbuda’s coastal ecosystems?
13. Why protect herbivores?
14. Why protect sharks?
15. Do sanctuary zones work?
16. What impact will the fish sanctuaries have on fishing?
17. Why restrict artificial reefs?
18. Why put escape gaps in fish traps?
19. Why prohibit nets on reefs?
20. Why prohibit fishing on spawning aggregations?
Policy
21. What is a Sustainable Ocean Policy?
22. What is ocean zoning?
23. How was the community consulted in the development of the Sustainable Coastal Policy?
24. How were the sanctuary zones designed?
Are the Rumors True?
25. No, the Waitt Institute doesn’t just wants to create fish sanctuaries and stop people from fishing.
26. No, the Waitt Institute is not in Barbuda looking for gold and other treasures to steal from
shipwrecks.
27. No, the Initiative is not some crazy environmentalist scheme to stop people from fishing, and put
fishermen out of business.
28. No, the new management won’t apply to a huge amount of the ocean, out to at least 12 miles
from the shore of Barbuda.
29. No, this is not all some sneaky money-making get-rich scheme by the Waitt Institute to collect
fees from people who fish and boat around Barbuda.
30. No, the Barbuda Council is not just doing whatever the Waitt Institute says.
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Barbuda and the Blue Halo Initiative
1. What is the Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative?
The Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative has the goal of sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable use of ocean
resources for this and future generations. The Initiative is a collaboration among the Barbuda Council,
Codrington Lagoon National Park, Barbuda Fisheries Division, Office of the Prime Minister of Antigua
& Barbuda, the people of Barbuda, and the Waitt Institute.
The Initiative will create and implement a Sustainable Coastal Policy to manage the waters around
Barbuda, out to 3.45 miles from shore (the limit of Barbuda Council’s jurisdiction). The approach:
• Make decisions based on scientific, social, and economic data,
• Heavily engage the people of Barbuda in the planning process,
• Establish sanctuary zones (where fishing is prohibited) to restore fish populations and
habitats, and
• Minimize any negative impacts on fishing and coastal livelihoods.
The Initiative was inspired by a somewhat similar project in Bermuda, also called Blue Halo, and is
funded by the Waitt Foundation. Barbuda Blue Halo is the Waitt Institute’s first such Initiative led in-
house, and is the pilot for replicating similar Initiatives around the Caribbean, and the world.
Technical experts have been contracted to support the scientific, mapping, legal, enforcement, and
filming components. The Waitt Institute offers a toolkit of technical and facilitation tools that the
government and people of Barbuda are using to design and implement a Sustainable Coastal Policy
that works for them.
2. What will the outcomes be?
The first outcome will be a Sustainable Ocean Policy that includes:
• Comprehensive zoning map (out to 3.45 miles, i.e., 1 league)
• New fisheries management regulations
• Plans for monitoring, enforcement, and financing
After the above is implemented, the hope is that additional outcomes will include the list of benefits
described in #3 below will begin to accrue to the people of Barbuda.
3. How can the people of Barbuda benefit from this Initiative?
By developing and implementing a Sustainable Coastal Policy, the Blue Halo Initiative can result in:
• More fish, lobster, and conch ! better catches and improved fishing livelihoods
• Healthier reefs with more coral and less algae ! more tourism and job opportunities
• Access to new, high-end markets to sell fish ! good prices and more outlets for fishers
• Build reputation as an international leader in sustainability ! more tourism opportunities
• Fishing becomes sustainable ! future generations have lots of fish to catch and eat
• Education about the marine environment ! next generation of local coastal managers
• Publicizing and enforcing new regulations ! protection against illegal fishing
• Conservation via sanctuary zones ! Protect local traditions and culture that are intertwined
with the ocean for current and future generations
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4. What is the timeline for the Initiative?
The Waitt Institute has a 5-year commitment to partnering with the government and people of
Barbuda toward the successful implementation of a Sustainable Coastal Policy. Highly abridged
timeline below and more information available in the Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative Work Plan.
• Late 2012: Scoping and planning.
• 2013: Development of community-driven, science-based Sustainable Coastal Policy.
• 2014: Finalize and legally codify a Sustainable Coastal Policy. Begin implementation.
• 2015: Full Implementation, including enforcement and scientific monitoring. Ensure local
staff have the needed training to carry out monitoring and enforcement.
• 2016 & 2017: Waitt Institute less heavily involved, but ensures local capacity is in place for
successful long-term implementation.
Continued outreach and education will occur throughout. A more detailed timeline is given in the
Initiative Work Plan available on the Barbuda Blue Halo website.
5. Why was Barbuda chosen as an Initiative location?
Barbuda is an ideal location to pilot the Blue Halo Initiative based on the following:
• The Barbuda Council and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda endorsed the Waitt Institute’s
Blue Halo concept and pledged to collaborate on developing a Sustainable Ocean Policy.
• Staffs at the Codrington Lagoon National Park and Barbuda Fisheries Division were
enthusiastic and interested in working with the Waitt Institute team.
• The island population is small enabling the Waitt Institute’s small team to be effective.
• The island economy is dependent on healthy coastal resources, so finding a way to restore
and maintain them will provide a significant benefit to the community.
• The people of Barbuda understand the need for, and benefits of, managing fisheries
sustainably, and are very knowledgeable and welcoming.
6. How does the Initiative address climate change?
Climate change effects coral reef ecosystems and fisheries in numerous ways. Scientific studies show
that healthier, more intact ecosystems are more resilient to the stressors of climate change such as
severe storms and higher temperatures. This is one of the primary reasons that rebuilding fish stocks
and coastal ecosystems is so important. However, there is no component of the Initiative that directly
tackles mitigation of the impacts of climate change impacts or the development of climate policy.
Waitt Institute
7. What is the Waitt Institute?
The Waitt Institute is a non-profit organization based in La Jolla, California. It was established in 2005
by Ted Waitt (co-founder of Gateway Computers) to foster exploration and discovery. The focus of the
Waitt Institute has shifted in recent years, and today its mission is “empowering communities to
restore their oceans to full productivity.” To achieve this, the Waitt Institute directs its efforts toward
fostering deep collaborations with local governments and communities to create comprehensive
zoning and management solutions. For more information, please visit www.waittinstitute.org.
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8. Who is heading Waitt Institute’s role in the Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative?
The Waitt Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Ayana Johnson, is the Waitt Institute lead for this Initiative.
Ayana earned her Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and holds a
bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in environmental science and public policy. For her
dissertation, Ayana studied the ecology and socioeconomics of fishing in Curaçao and Bonaire,
focusing on fish traps and gill nets, and interviewing fishermen to understand their priorities,
concerns, and views on ocean management. More information regarding Ayana’s qualifications and
background are available at www.ayanaelizabeth.com.
9. What is the Waitt Institute’s relationship with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the
Barbuda Council?
There is no contract or other formal agreement between the Waitt Institute and the Government of
Antigua and Barbuda or the Barbuda Council. The Waitt Institute provides the tools, resources, and
training to enable Barbuda to develop and implement new policies for sustainable use of coastal
resources. The Waitt Institute makes policy recommendations based on science, case studies, and a
deepening understanding of the specific situation in Barbuda. Any party can refuse the Waitt
Institute’s recommendations, assistance, or involvement at any time. All services provided by the
Waitt Institute are under the Institute’s mission of "empowering communities to restore their oceans."
10. Does the Waitt Institute fund other types of projects in Barbuda?
The Waitt Institute is only able to support projects that are in line with its mission of “empowering
communities to restore their oceans to full productivity.” It is worth noting that restoring the coastal
waters that are imperative to the local economy and culture has the potential to alleviate other issues
the island is facing and provide general economic benefit.
However, the Waitt Institute is discussing ways to provide alternative livelihood trainings, and
examining partnering with Fair Trade International to certify the lobster fishery to provide additional
benefits to fishers.
11. Does the Waitt Institute provide funds to the Barbuda Council and Government of Antigua &
Barbuda?
The Waitt Institute does not directly provide funds to the Barbuda Council or Government of Antigua
and Barbuda. The Waitt Institute works along side the Barbuda Council, Barbuda Fisheries, and
Codrington Lagoon Park to help provide materials and resources (e.g. a patrol boat, SCUBA gear,
marker buoys, etc.) needed for implementation, In addition, the Waitt Institute is helping the Barbuda
Council to legally establish a government fund dedicated exclusively for implementation of coastal
regulations, as well as a "Friends of Barbuda Blue Halo" fund to enable any individual, foundation,
corporation, or other group to financially contribute to long-term implementation plan for Barbuda
through certified non-profit.
Science
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14. What is the current condition of Barbuda’s coastal ecosystems?
Barbuda’s marine ecosystems appear to have declined dramatically in recent years. Based on a
scientific assessment conducted around Barbuda, a number of species are overfished and nearshore
ecosystems have declined. Population sizes of lobster, conch, fish, and corals seem to be much lower
than formerly. Large fish are scarce, parrotfish are declining, and certain species (e.g., some shallow
groupers) are very rare or absent. However, there is still hope. The Codrington Lagoon is healthy and
an excellent nursery area. More information on the status of Barbuda’s coastal waters can be found in
the Ecological Assessment Report.
15. Why protect herbivores?
Herbivores help keep coral reefs healthy by eating algae that would otherwise smother the corals1.
Keeping algae levels on the reefs low makes corals more resilient to other stresses like hurricanes and
disease. The healthier the reef the better it can sustain marine life and protect the coast from storms
and large waves2. After protection, parrotfish, a key herbivore on the reefs of Barbuda, can be
expected to show significant increases in population size within 10 years3.
16. Why protect sharks?
Sharks are essential top predators that control the populations of other animals in the food chain,
keeping the ecosystem in balance. Because of their long lifespan and low rate of reproduction, shark
populations can quickly decline when not fished sustainably. Removal of sharks and other top
predators from an ecosystem has negative cascading effects, disrupting the food chain and reef
health. Furthermore, sharks are worth more alive than dead with a global tourism industry for SCUBA
diving with sharks providing thousands of jobs and valued at $300+ million dollars a year4.
17. Do sanctuary zones work?
Long-term studies around the world have shown that sanctuary zones do work. In the tropics they
increase biomass (living plants and animals) by 368%5 on average and up to 463%6. Higher numbers
of fish inside sanctuaries creates “spillover” as they move to surrounding areas7. In some areas
fishermen who fish just outside sanctuary boundaries have reported 46-90% increases in catch8. By
protecting fish, sanctuaries also help restore coral by keeping algae levels low, thereby allowing
corals to grow and increasing their resistance to bleaching and other disturbances9,10.
18. What impact will the proposed sanctuaries have on fishing?
The proposed sanctuary zones would be permanently closed to all fishing, with the exception of
Codrington Lagoon, which would be closed for two years and then potentially re-opened with strict
management. Although establishing sanctuary zones would clearly limit the areas available to
fishing, the current draft of proposed sanctuaries leaves 66% of the waters open to fishing. Once fish
populations begin to increase inside the sanctuary zones, those fish will swim outside of the
sanctuary boundaries, increasing fishers catches. This “spillover effect” has been observed around
sanctuary zones around the world 11. Also, it is important to note that the new sanctuaries would only
exist within 3.45 miles of the Barbudan shoreline, so there would be no new restrictions to fishing
beyond that distance, where most local professional fishers primarily fish.
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18. Why restrict artificial reefs?
Well designed artificial reefs can promote coral growth and recovery. However, poorly installed
artificial reefs, or those made out of inappropriate materials, can be damaging and/or toxic to marine
life. A permit system will ensure that all artificial reefs in Barbuda are designed to increase coral
growth and won’t come dislodged and break coral.
19. Why put escape gaps in fish traps?
Installing escape gaps in fish traps is a low-cost, low-tech solution with high ecological benefits.
Escape gaps reduce bycatch of juvenile, small and unmarketable fish by 80% without effecting
fishermen’s incomes12. This short (3-minute) video explains how.
20. Why prohibit nets on reefs?
Gillnets get tangled in coral and can damage them. Gillnets are less selective than other types of gear
and have high rates of bycatch. Gillnets set on Caribbean reefs were found to target herbivores,
making up 88% of the total catch13, making corals more susceptible to competition from algae and
less resilient to stress and disease.
21. Why prohibit fishing on spawning aggregations?
Spawning aggregations are sensitive to both protection and fishing pressure. Heavily fished
aggregations can disappear in a matter of decades14,15. Protected aggregations can increase their
biomass by an average of 60% in just 5 years16. Allowing species to reproduce and replenish their
populations ensures continued exploitation of stocks and benefits fishermen in the long-term.
Policy
22. What is a Sustainable Coastal Policy?
The Waitt Institute’s Sustainable Coastal Policy has three main components: (1) coastal zoning, (2)
new fisheries regulations, and (3) an implementation plan for monitoring, enforcement, and
financing. All three components are highly collaborative, and are a partnership between the Waitt
Institute and our team of experts, local government, stakeholders, and NGOs. Visit our website for a
detailed list of all Initiative components and how they form the Sustainable Coastal Policy.
23. What is ocean zoning?
Simply put, ocean zoning is a big picture approach to managing the ocean that balances all uses and
helps to ensure sustainability. You can’t do every ocean activity in the same place at the same time,
and ocean zoning helps develop a vision of what you want the ocean to look like, and a plan to get
there. More formally ocean zoning is defined as a regulatory measure usually consisting of a zoning
map and regulations for some or all areas of a marine region. There are generally two components to
an ocean zoning plan: 1) a map that depicts the zones, and 2) a set of regulations applicable to each
type of zone created17.
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Potential benefits of ocean zoning include:
• Balance economic, environmental, security, and social and cultural interests
• Safeguard ecologically important areas
• Allow commercial activity to develop with certainty
• Support international cooperation
• Facilitate sustainable economic growth
Currently, approximately 10% of global Exclusive Economic Zones are zoned, and that number will
increase to 33% once all plans under way are completed. 31 countries have used ocean zoning as a
tool for the management of their oceans. For more information, there is a wealth of resources
available online at OpenChannels.org.
24. How was the community consulted in the development of the Sustainable Coastal Policy?
To ensure the new policy reflects the priorities of the community, extensive consultations have been
held to ensure that the management approach is able to meet the Initiative’s goals in a locally-
appropriate manner. This has included 7 community consultation meetings, 4 consultation meetings
just with fishers, creation of a Stakeholder Committee, and over 100 one-on-one interviews with
members of the community. All the zone boundaries were drawn by the people of Barbuda, and the
current draft policy is 70% different from the initial Waitt Institute recommendations, due to
incorporate of community feedback.
19. How were the proposed sanctuary zones designed?
The Barbuda Council created a strawman proposal of 6 sanctuary zones in August 2013. This proposal
was shared publicly, and specific input was sought from fishers. The computer program SeaSketch
(barbuda.seasketch.org) allowed stakeholders to create their ideal versions of where sanctuary zones
should be placed. Each of these stakeholder proposals were then reviewed by the Barbuda Council
and checked against scientific recommendations, resulting in a new draft set of zones in October
2013 that reflected fishers preferred boundaries. After several more months of public consultation
with the people of Barbuda, the Council produced a near-final draft zoning map in December 2013
that includes sanctuary zones, no-net zones, anchoring/mooring zones, and a shipping zone. All of
these maps are available online at barbuda.waittinstitute.org/maps.
Are the rumors true?
25. The Waitt Institute just wants to create fish sanctuaries and stop people from fishing.
FALSE: The Blue Halo Initiative is focused on developing and implementing a community-driven,
science-based, comprehensive Sustainable Coastal Policy. While creating fish sanctuaries is an
important tool for ecosystem restoration and ensuring sustainable fisheries, the Initiative is much
broader than this, also including work to improve fisheries management regulations, develop plans
for implementation, scientific monitoring, enforcement, and financing.
26. The Waitt Institute is in Barbuda looking for gold and other treasures to steal from shipwrecks.
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FALSE: Prior to changing its mission to "empowering communities to restore their oceans", the Waitt
Institute focused on ocean exploration and discovery. Marine archeology research projects included
helping to map the wreckage of the Titanic and the search for Amelia Earhart’s plane.
27. The Initiative is a crazy environmentalist scheme to stop people from fishing and put fishermen
out of business.
FALSE: The goal of the Barbuda Blue Halo Initiative is to improve the lives of the people of Barbuda by
replenishing fish stocks therefore improving catch quantity, and ultimately improving and securing
fishing potential for future generations. Restored coastal fisheries means
• fishermen can stay closer to shore, spending less money on gasoline,
• safer fishing trips for small boats, and
• increased safety for SCUBA and free divers who can dive shallow waters for a good catch.
28. The new management will apply to a huge amount of the ocean, out to at least 12 miles from
the shore of Barbuda.
FALSE. The Sustainable Coastal Policy being developed will only apply to the waters within the
Barbuda Council’s jurisdiction, which is within 3.45 miles of the coastline.
29. This is all some sneaky money-making get-rich scheme by the Waitt Institute to collect fees
from people who fish and boat around Barbuda.
FALSE The Waitt Institute is a non-profit organization fully-funded by Ted Waitt to "empower
communities to restore their oceans." The Institute does not have a contract or financial agreement
with the Barbuda Council or any other entity in Antigua & Barbuda, and does not stand to profit from
any activities undertaken in Barbuda. For information other ‘s funded by the Waitt Foundation visit
www.waittfoundation.org.
30. The Barbuda Council is just doing whatever the Waitt Institute says.
FALSE: The Barbuda Council, together with the community, has created their own set of policy
priorities. The Waitt Institute makes recommendations to the Council based on science and relevant
case studies, making information and tools available to assist in decision making. There is no
requirement that these recommendations be accepted, and throughout the Initiative the Waitt
Institute has held consultations with the community to make sure their concerns are being met and
all decisions are locally appropriate. (See question 24.)
1
Burkepile, D.E. and M.E. Hay. 2008. Herbivore species richness and feeding complementarity affect community structure and function on a coral
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Idjadi, J.A., Haring, R.N., and W.F. Precht. 2010. Recovery of the sea urchin Diadema antillarum promotes scleractinian coral growth and
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Cisneros-Montemayor, A.M., Barnes-Mauthe, M., Al-Abdulrazzak, D., Navarro-Holm, E., and U.R. Sumaila. 2013. Global economic value of shark
ecotourism: implications for conservation. Oryx 47(3):381-388.
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(PISCO) Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans. 2008. The Science of Marine Reserves (2nd Edition, Latin America and
Caribbean). www.piscoweb.org. 22 pages.
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6
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PLoS ONE 6(8):e23601.
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Magdaong, E.T., Fujii, M., Yamano, H., Licuanan, W.Y., Maypa, A., Campos, W.L., Alcala, A.C., White, A.T., Apistar, D., and R. Martinez. 2013. Long-
term change in coral cover and the effectiveness of marine protected areas in the Philippines: a meta-analysis. Hydrobiologia: doi
10.1007/s10750-013-1720-5.
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P.J. Mumby et al. 2013. "Operationalizing the resilience of coral reefs in an era of climate change." Conservation Letters. doi: 10.1111/conl.12047
- See more at: http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/fact-sheets/no-take-marine-reserves-make-coral-reefs-more-resilient-
85899493008#sthash.Q69TXzG0.dpuf
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Roberts, C.M., Bohnsack, J.A., Gell, F., Hawkins, J.P., and R. Goodridge. 2001. Effects of marine reserves on adjacent fisheries. Science 294:1920-
1923.
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Johnson, A.E. 2010. Reducing bycatch in coral reef trap fisheries: escape gaps as a step towards sustainability. Marine Ecology Progress Series
415:201-209
13
Toller, W. and W. Tobias. 2007. Management Implications for Restrictions on the use of Gill and Trammel Nets in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
GCFI 58:105-116.
14
Sala, E., Ballesteros, E. and R. M. Starr. 2001. Rapid Decline of Nassau Grouper Spawning Aggregations in Belize: Fishery Management and
Conservation Needs. Fisheries 26(10):23-30.
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Aguilar-Perera, A. 2006. Disappearance of a Nassau grouper spawning aggregation off the southern Mexican Caribbean coast. Marine Ecology
Progress Series 327:289–296.
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Ecology Progress Series 286: 81–97
17
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