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CFMC’s Outreach and Education Strategic Plan:

OEAP Report to the Council

First Draft143rd Regular CFMC Meeting

Fajardo, Puerto RicoAugust 28-29, 2012

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Goal

The goal of the CFMC Outreach and Education Plan is to engage the public/stakeholders in learning and understanding the marine ecosystems, the fisheries and the conservation of the marine resources to promote their participation (stewardship).

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OEAP Process

2 meetings

Inventory of activities

Sub groups assignments and meetings

First draft of the document

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Activities proposed

ALL MATERIALS WILL BE PRODUCED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH

CFMC brochure: Revise existing publication and produce an up to date attractive and informative brochure about the CFMC with the objective of disseminating Council’s functions to the public.

Newsletter: Quarterly publication to disseminate to the stakeholders the issues and decisions taken by the Council in their regular meetings.

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Activities proposed

Factsheets: Easily comprehensible information on the biology, ecology and important facts of managed species, essential fish habitats and fisheries management strategies (9-12 issues).

2013 -Caribbean Fisheries Calendar: Dates, facts and important fisheries information in a manageable and attractive format to the public.

Webpage: Revision of existing CFMC’s Webpage to modernize its format and to update the information important to the stakeholders.

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Activities proposed

School resources: Different materials and activities for teaching and learning about the Caribbean Sea Fisheries Resources through multidisciplinary and interactive activities. These will be accompanied by teacher’s training activities in the use of the materials, school visits by CFMC’s staff, The Caribbean Sea Fisheries: A Resource Book

for Secondary School Teachers. Comic book on Caribbean Sea Fisheries. Short (15 mins.) videos on managed species,

essential fish habitats and fisheries management strategies

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Activities proposed

Workshops: For legislators, government officers and rangers to promote better understanding of the fisheries resources and a cohesive discourse on the management issues that impact the stakeholders.

Outreach meetings: Revise the present format of the public meetings convened by the Council to make them more effective in the communication process.

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Activities proposed

Community activities: Support community activities, such as, coastal festivals, fishing competitions, etc., that offers the opportunity of conveying Council’s goals, objectives and expectations to the general public.

Posters: Review existing posters and evaluate their effectiveness for stakeholders use. Consider the possibility of producing a new set of posters specific for managed species and essential fish habitats.

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Activities proposed

Scientific Monographs on Caribbean Fisheries: Research information generated for Fishery Management Plans and other documents, translated and interpreted to enhance citizen’s literacy on fisheries concepts and issues.

Internships: With CFMC and selected Fisheries laboratories in the US to attract upper undergraduate and graduate students from PR and USVI to pursue research, training and education in fisheries related fields.

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Activities proposed

Mass media: Conduct a survey to asses the extent and potential impact of radio, TV, educational films and periodical columns in general distribution newspapers in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix to promote citizens’ awareness and literacy in fisheries issues.

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Recommendations to the Council

Tailor all products to the cultural and social needs of a three(3) islands approach: Puerto Rico (Spanish), St. Thomas/St. John (English) and St. Croix (both languages).

Request from the SSC and the AP to identify the needs for outreach and education on the issues under discussion at any given time, and convey those needs to the OEAP to translate them into outreach and education activities.8/26/12

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Recommendations to the Council

Remit the technical documents (Biological Opinions, FMPs, etc.) produced by the experts and consultants to the OEAP for recommendations on needed outreach and education activities.

Develop evaluation forms, to be completed by participants, to evidence effectiveness of all outreach and education activities, including community activities (festivals, public hearings, scoping meetings) related to CFMC’s objectives.8/26/12

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Recommendations to the Council

Designate specific personnel within CFMC staff to be responsible for the O & E Strategic Plan.

Strengthen existing partnerships, and develop new ones, that will facilitate the Council’s objectives of O & E.

Due to gap in education for fishermen in the jurisdiction consider recruitment of 2-3 fisheries advisory field agents to facilitate communication with the Council in Puerto Rico and the USVI.

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Questions?

Comments?

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