Compliance and enforcement of fisheries regulations in the caribbean

One of the most challenging aspects of the global, regional, and national initiatives to protect and manage fisheries resources is that of compliance and enforcement. Illegal activity and non-compliance with laws and regulations is a fact of life in fisheries. Despite the provision of substantial legislative and regulatory measures to protect and manage fisheries, the level of non-compliance with these regulations is unacceptably high. Throughout the region, the available resources and institutional capacity for monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement is inadequate to ensure compliance with existing legislations and regulations. At the same time, the level of awareness of both the environmental problems occurring in the fisheries and the laws and regulations designed to protect the sector is low among: resource users. Lack of compliance with fisheries regulations is therefore a major constraint that needs to be addressed to effectively protect and manage the fisheries resources of the region. This paper discusses the regulatory framework for fisheries management in the Caribbean region, the state of compliance with existing regulations, and possible steps that can be taken to improve the level of compliance.