Currently, local artisinal fishermen rely on the ocean as their main source of food and income. The bigger the fish, the more meat and the more potential revenue. They don’t differentiate between fish and mammal, abundant or endangered. Without an alternative opportunity or income, these local fishermen will continue to deplete key marine species such and sharks and sea turtles, which are critical to our healthy ocean. The formation of programs to teach them other income-generating possibilities, which are feasible in their community, is a next step of our mission.

The fishermen who reside in these coastal communities are catching and killing endangered species at an alarming rate. Some of these species, such as the endangered West Indian manatee, only recently reappeared on the south and north coasts, after being assumed extinct in Haitian waters since the 1980’s. The need for international support and attention for the massacre of marine mammals and other high profile species in Haiti needs to be a major priority. Haiti Ocean Project has already contacted international marine scientists and marine conservation organizations about these unfortunate and frequent instances. The time is now to act before these important marine species disappear in Haitian waters forever!