Bio-Economics and Conch Fisheries in Jamaica: An Interview with Jamaican Fisheries Scientist Ricardo Morris
PhD Candidate, Aquaculture & Marine fisheries sustainability, Aquaculture as STEM
I had the pleasure to interview another brilliant young scientist from Jamaica. Prior to leaving Jamaica for his graduate studies, Ricardo Morris was a fisheries scientist with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Ricardo obtained his masters of Science degree in Iceland and is currently finishing up his PhD studies in Mexico City where his main focus is Aquaculture Bio-Economics.
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Over zoom we talked about his past experiences working in Jamaica, his current research, and mutual hopes for Aquaculture in Jamaica and the Caribbean. We also talked about the decline in aquaculture in Jamaica, the discontinue of aquaculture studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and the need for more Caribbean Scientists conducting research and publishing peer-reviewed articles as well as non peer reviewed articles in international Journals.
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“We need more peer reviewed scientific articles and published data for Caribbean Aquaculture”
Ricardo Morris
HERE IS A SUMMARY OF OUR CONVERSATION…..
Where are you currently and what are you studying?
I am in Mexico studying fisheries and and aquaculture bioeconomics which is a branch of resource economics that we apply not only biological components or principles to resource management but also to applied microeconomic principles.
What were you doing before you went to graduate school?
After graduating with my bachelors, I started working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. I was there for 10 years before leaving. I was in charge of research for queen conch, lobster, oysters in the Bowden area. I also was involved with Fisheries management and data collection.
We talked about the conch fishery in Jamaica?
I fell in love with conch research while working in Jamaica. Currently I am working on a case study for Queen Conch in the Pedro Bank in Jamaica. I am also interested in the sustainability of Queen Conch in general. My thesis is heavily focused on sedentary species, spatial analysis and the ecology , biology and human side which is economics. Integrating all into the ecosystem approach of fisheries. Up until 2018 there was a survey completed on Queen Conch which produced a moratorium for 2 years. The output, biology and condition of the species was poor. However since 2019, things have improved and the industry was opened. But there are still problems. The real issue is the management of people. My research from my thesis will contribute to a better understanding of the species and resource management.
What is Bioeconomics?
Bioeconomics links the the biological actions, behaviours with the economics. Linking the animal and the people directly. Economics will play a role to where a fisher will fish for conch. Price, market and quality plays apart in the biological analysis. So bioeconomics will take into account the biology and the economics inorder to make an appropriate analysis of how to have a sustainable conch fisheries.
What is the difference between Marine Science, Fisheries and Aquaculture?
Marine Ecology, Fisheries and Aquaculture are separate sciences and disciplines that are needed and should work in sync with each other. Ecology is the ecosystem approach. Fisheries is to understand the management of resources, aquaculture is a controlled method of farming of aquatic species to reduce the uncertainty as it relates to each system. Each can be an input to the other.
Advocating for Aquaculture Sciences to be included into STEM
What do you think about its importance into leading up as a subject for science students.
Our marine species are on a decline and we need more research, innovations and solutions to reduce the decimation of finfish and other marine species. Aquaculture should be introduced into secondary and tertiary education to our student scientists as options for a career. We are bearing a huge loss to opportunities. We need alot more scientists working on the necessary research.
OPPORTUNITIES IN AQUACULTURE FOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY STUDENTS ( listen to the end of the recording)
There are several opportunities to study aquaculture as there are many scholarships for students who would like to study abroad.
There is a big gap in aquaculture sciences. If you are interested in Sciences and publication. There are not enough published material where our young scientists can find this opportunity to contribute to the development of Jamaica. For example marine aquarium fish, red tail snapper, parrot fish are species that needs more research
We hope that listening to this recording can start a conversation on the need for more Scientific Aquaculture in the Caribbean, the benefits of a secondary or tertiary education in Aquaculture Sciences and the opportunities for the future job creation
Our vision is to see more of a Caribbean presence in International Aquaculture meetings like the upcoming Latin America and Caribbean conference of the World Aquaculture Society held in Panama April 18 to 21, 2023
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN WORLD AQUACULTURE CONFERENCE SEE THE LINK BELOW
Learn more about Ricardo
SEE LINKS BELOW FOR RICARDO A. MORRIS - PUBLICATIONS
