World Water Day

Prepared by: Dr. Álida Ortiz Sotomayor, Presidenta OEAP

as the World Water Day, recognizing the value of this resource and the need of protecting it. Water covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and we are very conscious of that, especially when we see the rivers, lagoons, streams, and the ocean in our islands. Likewise, coastal wetlands and swamps are part of our water resources. Although we do not tend to think about them when we talk about water, they are ecosystems of utmost importance for the sustainability of our fishing resources. In the same way rivers flow into the sea, the water of the wetlands and swamps connects with the ocean.

Maintaining the health of ecosystems such as mangroves, wetlands, and coastal lagoons is everyone ' s task. Avoiding pollution of water bodies, not throwing solid waste, and reducing runoff are ways to protect these ecosystems and ensure the quality of the water where the fish that we are going to eat, live. Also, we have the responsibility of improving planning of coastal development. Draining and filling mangroves or coastal lagoons destroy the habitats that work as fish nurseries, filt ff t d bu su

Climate change impacts, such as extreme droughts and hurricanes, are occurring with greater intensity and frequency. Mangroves, wetlands, and coastal lagoons play a key role for our fisheries but, at the same time, are highly sensitive to environmental degradation, mostly caused by human activities. We should pay more attention to these coastal ecosystems that are connected to our marine resources For these reasons, the Fisheries Management Plans for Puerto Rico, St. Thomas / St. John and St. Croix developed by the CFMC consider these coastal ecosystems as Habitats of Particular Concern

More information about the Fisheries Management Plans? Visit https://caribbeanfmc.com/fishery-management/draft-island-based-fmps.