Local Knowledge of the Marine Environment to Promote Ocean Health and Sustainable Livelihoods in Suriname

The high productivity of Suriname’s marine environment, a constituent of the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem, has been exploited by unregulated fishing, and is increasingly threatened by offshore and nearshore... [ view full abstract ]

The high productivity of Suriname’s marine environment, a constituent of the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem, has been exploited by unregulated fishing, and is increasingly threatened by offshore and nearshore natural gas prospecting, coastal degradation from sand mining, and pollution from inland sources. Consequently, the unique, and sparsely explored, biodiversity of Suriname’s marine environment, and the livelihoods and food security of Surinamese marine resource users are under threat. The Green Heritage Fund Suriname, WWF Guianas, and the Suriname Forest Service’s Nature Conservation Division have initiated a marine spatial planning (MSP) process, through an EU-financed project to address the challenges the region faces to effectively and fairly manage its marine environment and biodiversity. Marine resource users and national regulatory agencies in Suriname have expressed support for the MSP process. Local knowledge will be gathered, catalogued and shared, and targeted capacity building with marine resource users and national regulatory agencies will be initiated to empower key ocean users and protect livelihoods, whilst also safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing food security. Enhancing knowledge of the marine environment and the capacity of marine resource users and national regulatory agencies will facilitate fair and sustainable management and coordination of human activities in the marine environment of Suriname.