Bervoets leads Barbados training on sustainable fisheries and marine planning

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten marine biologist and natural resource manager Tadzio Bervoets recently led three days of hands-on training in Barbados aimed at strengthening sustainable fisheries management and marine spatial planning across the region.

The training was held from September 1 to 3 at the invitation of the Barbados Marine Spatial Planning office, in collaboration with the Barbados fisheries department. It brought together fisheries and conservation professionals for practical instruction in building, deploying and analysing footage from Baited Remote Underwater Video systems, commonly known as BRUVs.

BRUV systems allow researchers and managers to record marine life without capturing or handling animals. Bervoets guided participants through the full process, from constructing the equipment to reviewing footage and discussing how the information gathered can support fisheries management and broader ocean planning.

“The goal was to provide practical skills that participants can use in their ongoing work,” Bervoets said. “Better information about marine life and habitats helps us support sustainable fisheries and make informed decisions about how we use our seas.”

Marine spatial planning considers multiple uses of the ocean, including fishing, tourism, shipping and conservation, with the aim of balancing competing interests while protecting important habitats. Underwater monitoring can provide evidence for that process alongside fisheries catch records and the knowledge of fishers.

Bervoets stressed that effective fisheries management cannot be separated from the protection and planning of marine areas.

“Sustainable fisheries and marine spatial planning go hand in hand,” he said. “We need to protect the habitats that sustain fish populations and ensure fishing communities have a meaningful role in decisions about their waters.”

The collaboration with the Barbados fisheries department and Marine Spatial Planning office connected the training directly to practical management needs in Barbados, while also generating lessons relevant to St. Maarten and other Caribbean territories that share similar challenges in managing coastal waters and marine resources.

Bervoets thanked the organizers and participants and highlighted the importance of Caribbean professionals sharing expertise across borders to strengthen fisheries management, protect marine ecosystems and support communities whose livelihoods depend on the sea.

Photo caption: Participants in the three-day marine monitoring training led by St. Maarten marine biologist and natural resource manager Tadzio Bervoets, organized with the Barbados Marine Spatial Planning office and fisheries department to support sustainable fisheries and ocean planning.

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