| Record number | 439241 |
|---|---|
| Title | Strengthening Coastal Pollution Management in the Wider Caribbean Region |
| Author(s) | Lavieren, H. van; Metcalfe, C.D.; Drouillard, K.; Sale, P.; Gold-Bouchot, G.; Reid, R.; Vermeulen, L.C. |
| Source | In: Proceedings of the Sixty Four Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, 31 October - 5 November 2011. - Puerto Morelos, Mexico : Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute - p. 17 - 27. |
| Event | Puerto Morelos, Mexico : Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Sixty Four Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, 2011-10-31/2011-11-05 |
| Department(s) |
Environmental Systems Analysis Group WIMEK |
| Publication type | Contribution in proceedings |
| Publication year | 2011 |
| Abstract | Control of aquatic pollution is critical for improving coastal zone management and for the conservation of fisheries resources. Countries in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) generally lack monitoring capacity and do not have reliable information on the levels and distribution of pollutants, particularly chemical contaminants, and the ecological and/or human health risks. Given the substantial cultural and economic importance of coastal environments to WCR communities, this should be cause for serious concern. This paper describes two studies determining persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in 1) the white grunt fish (Haemulon plumieri) and 2) three oyster species. It highlights lessons learned on improving capacity for environmental monitoring of POPs and how to build an effective south-south network involving academic institutions, laboratories and management agencies. Data are reported for Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, and the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Overall, PCB and organochlorine concentrations were low relative to consumption guidelines used to protect the health of humans consuming contaminated seafood. However, since both monitoring organisms occupy low to mid-trophic levels in the marine food web, there is a risk of higher contaminant concentrations accumulating in top trophic levels, such as piscivorous fish and birds. Identified sources of contaminants include domestic sewage, agriculture and industry, large continental rivers and atmospheric deposition. For example, data indicate that atmospheric deposition is a likely source of POPs in Belize, while there is evidence of point sources of POPs in St. Lucia. Currently, these are the only data available on POPs contamination in fish and oysters distributed across the WCR, but will hopefully lead to future studies, increased awareness and strengthening of coastal pollution management |
| Comments |
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