There are ten goals of the Fishing LAS. 

1. Provide STXEEMP managers with sufficient baseline information to assess the current status of coral reef ecosystems, existing harvest patterns of fisheries resources and to  determine the relative impact of fishing with in the marine park.  

2. Further develop and implement a flexible and adaptive management strategy for protecting coral reef and fishery resources. 

3. Provide marine park managers with adequate means to enforce regulatory policies and improve public awareness of those regulations. 

4. Enable park managers to estimate the human dimensions of regulatory policies and to lessen the severity of impacts through the provision of alternatives. 

5. Provide park managers with continuous monitoring information on the status of coral reef ecosystems, fisheries resources, usage of those resource, compliance with regulatory policies, and issues of enforcement. 

6. Assist park managers with public outreach, education, and open dialog as it relates to the management of fisheries resources. 

7. Gather information to determine the effectiveness of the park in the conservation of coral reef ecosystems and the enhancement of fisheries resources. 

8. Strengthen local Fishery Advisory Committees (FACs) so that they can address those fisheries issues that directly impact marine park resources, but also extend beyond park boundaries (either island-wide fisheries issues or as territory-wide concerns). 

9. Manage coastal wetland areas so as to maintain their capacity to filter upland-derived sediments, to prevent overharvesting of the organisms that utilize these habitats, and to preserve the integrity of these habitats as nursery areas for numerous marine organisms.

10. Evaluate the impacts of marine debris on coral reef ecosystems within the park. 

The following projects were selected to address these goals.  Several projects have been funded and initiated.  Others have yet to be funded and offer potential for collaboration or additional initiatives.

Funded Projects-Currently being implemented by Virgin Islands Division of Coastal Zone Management (VICZM)

• Baseline survey of EEMP – in process 

• Empower local commercial fishermen – partially funded (fisher exchange program) 

• Revise territorial licensing system – partially funded (STXEEMP Recreational Fishing License Program) 

• Survey of Fishing Activity in EEMP – partially funded (STXEEMP Recreational Fishing License Program) 

• Educational workshops for commercial fishermen - funded 

• Initiate habitat enhancement projects to supplement natural habitats such as lobster casitas – partially funded (lobster monitoring protocol) 

• Initiate restocking programs of conch and lobster – partially funded (lobster monitoring protocol) 

• Develop an EEMP interpretive center – in process/out on RFP 

• Establishment of rules and regulations for the STXEEMP – in process 

• Conduct socioeconomic studies – in process/out on RFP

Priority future projects for the Marine Park (VICZM and/or collaborators)

• Implement EEMP regulation and zonation 

• Revise fishing regulations within the EEMP 

• Educational materials for commercial fishermen 

• Funding for FAC's 

• Develop alternative livelihood opportunities for displaced fishers by direct employment as park rangers, educators, etc. 

• Establish FADs, promote fishery for pelagics 

• Hire additional enforcement officers 

• Purchase equipment for enforcement officers and obtain funding for maintenance 

• Develop indirect opportunities within the EEMP in training displaced fishers as fly fishing guides 

• Establish a long-term fisheries monitoring program 

• Establish an EEMP coral reef monitoring program 

• Review usage statistics and enforcement actions and use adaptive management to modify EEMP policy 

• Create park ranger system 

• Implement marker buoy system 

• Report on Baseline Survey and Fishing Activity