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ENSURING BLUE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CARIBBEAN Featured

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 Participants at the CRFM/CNFO/CTA Workshop on Investing in Blue Growth

 ENSURING BLUE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE CARIBBEAN

December 1, 2014 – Belize City, Belize…Fisheries stakeholders from  14 Caribbean states including the French Caribbean met in St. Georges, Grenada from 20-21 November 2014 to discuss ways of improving economic growth and development by investing in “Blue Economic Growth,” that is, the creation of employment and economic growth and resilience through better use of the resources of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The 53 stakeholders attending the workshop  reviewed and provided inputs to improve implementation of various CARICOM policy and planning documents such as the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy and others on aquaculture development, Spiny Lobster and Nassau Grouper conservation and management;  and improving seafood safety and quality assurance systems [Sanitary (human and animal health) and Phytosanitary (plant health) –SPS]. 

The CRFM aims to promote the sustainable use of fisheries and aquatic resources in and among the CARICOM Member States, by development, management and conservation of these resources in collaboration with stakeholders to benefit the people of the Caribbean region. CRFM Member States suffer from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity which not only undermine the region’s fisheries management efforts but also threatens the countries’ border security and economic development. The combined land area of the CRFM Member States is 433,549 sq. km. The combined area of their exclusive economic zones is 2,046,948 km sq. km, and their coastlines extend over nearly 10,000km with an aggregate population of approximately 17 million, with annual per capita consumption of fisheries products estimated at 32 kg, (global average per capita consumption is 19.2kg).

The fisheries in CRFM Member States are an important foreign exchange earner and a primary contributor to income, employment, food security and social and economic stability, especially in coastal communities.  In 2010, 62,217 persons were employed in direct production in the marine capture fisheries, with a total fleet of fishing vessels operating in the commercial capture fisheries of just under 25,000 vessels and some 60 or more foreign-owned and operated fishing vessels registered under open registry arrangements (Belize and St. Vincent and the Grenadines).

The presence of trans-boundary fish stocks and fish stocks of common interest is of great benefit to the CRFM Member States, whose total marine capture fish production averaged 136,148 metric tons, between 2006 and 2010.  During the period 2008 – 2009, at ex-vessel prices the value of marine capture fisheries production for the region from domestic fleet was approximately USD 543,200,000.

The CRFM in collaboration with the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries hosted a two-day workshop on the theme “Investing in Blue Economic Growth” in 20-21 November 2014, to  both raise public awareness and understanding of the Blue Growth concept and  how to optimize social and economic benefits and sustainably manage the resources of the marine waters, and also to review and improve a number of draft regional policy and planning documents to guide national activities in these areas.

There are few large surplus stocks in the Caribbean region, with the exception of Guyana, Suriname and to a lesser extent, Belize.  The following categories of fisheries have traditionally been acknowledged by the CRFM region: small coastal pelagic fisheries such as flying fish, offshore fisheries for large pelagic such as tunas, shallow shelf and reef finfish fisheries, lobster fishery, shelf and deep slope fishery, shrimp fishery, conch fishery, echinoderm fishery (specifically, the sea urchin fishery), sea turtle fishery and fisheries for sea mammals.

In reviewing the sector’s short to medium term aquaculture plan of action for CARIFORUM Countries, stakeholders recommended that priority be given by CARICOM and the CRFM to begin research to identify the most suitable and commercially viable aquaculture species for the region.  They also recommended that consideration  should be given to the development of aquaculture that provides the by-products, including waste, from one aquatic species as inputs (fertilizers,food) for another (known as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture); and, aquaponics production systems  to improve and ensure adequate supply of fish  for  regional markets.  It is felt by the fisheries stakeholders that there is need for a single document to capture all the regional and sub-regional initiatives  aimed at satisfying international standards in the sector and ensure fisheries and aquaculture are integrated in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The capacity building investments should include improved networking and collaboration among stakeholders throughout the sector to ensure sustainable use and conservation of the resource base to provide optimum social and economic benefits to the people of the region.  Research and development activities should be done with the University of the West Indies and other regional institutions including the Directorates for Sea Fisheries and Aquaculture of the French Overseas Departments (DOMs) and the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and other institutions. The French institutions have done extensive research and development including technologies in the field of aquaculture of tropical marine  species for commercial use.  The workshop also recommended that in implementing the Aquaculture Action Plan, the CRFM and countries  take into consideration the need for  public education and awareness on the opportunities available in the sector and its importance for food and nutrition security in the Region.

Stakeholders highlighted the need for Fisherfolk capacity building and public  awareness and education on the Common Fisheries Policy, as well as the strategic importance of engaging with fishers in the implementation of the policy throughout the region.  They also underscored the need to update national legislation to incorporate and reflect the key tenets of the policy..  Participants felt that a pinnacle for strengthening Fisherfolk organisations includes compulsory participation of fishers through membership of  national fisher’s organizations and representation at regional levels decision-making bodies.

Success stories from the Jamaica Fisheries Cooperative Union shows the benefits of cooperatives as vessels for building capacity of fishers in better business management techniques,  and improved competitiveness in the sector, as well as succession planning and participation of fishers in benefit schemes, such as the national insurance programme.  

Stakeholders also identified the need for fishers, sub-regional organisations and national governments to assist with the collection and compilation of basic data needed to ensure the sustainable management of both marine and inland fish resources.  In this regard, the workshop recommended that a data and information sharing protocol be given priority attention in the immediate future as CRFM shifts towards full implementation of the Common fisheries policy.

The workshop also reviewed plans to boost post-harvest benefits through improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary systems particularly the 1st year’s work plan of a regional SPS project being coordinated by IICA, which covers legislation and regulations, management coordinating mechanisms and capacity building.  It is recommended that there should be continuous consultation with relevant institutions/bodies at regional and national levels to review and develop guidelines, model legislation, regulations and standards for an internationally acceptable SPS system. Where fish quality assurance legislation exists, in draft or otherwise (e.g. OECS and Barbados), these should be taken into account in developing new updated model legislation.

In the area of SPS capacity, support for the countries is expected in the development of the regulatory frameworks and industry capacity to meet international SPS requirements, e.g.: aimed at accreditation of microbiological, chemical and biochemical  laboratories and human resource development and equipment. Support will also  include certified training for routine testing of water and ice; routine testing of fishery products; and the testing for other chemical or biochemical contaminants such as heavy metals (mercury, lead, copper, cadmium); histamine and other bio-toxins.

In keeping with the CRFM’s efforts to realize participatory approaches to fisheries management, the development of a public sector-private sector partnerships (PPPs) and advocacy plans are also to be coordinated to support the management of the sector.

The next meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council which is tentatively scheduled for May 2015 is expected to  review and sign off on the various plans and policy documents, including a regional spiny lobster Declaration.  The aim of the lobster declarations is to promote a regional, harmonized approach to management, conservation and sustainable use of the Spiny Lobster, however it will be left to the Member States to implement and enforce the provisions of the Declaration.  In refining the declaration, the workshop recommended standardise lobster data collection, and that CRFM should develop a  format to meet the region’s requirements which would consider the different types of fishing methods, data collection situations, research and enforcement being done within the Region.  Fisherfolk and other stakeholders at the workshop also recommended a period of ban (regional closed season) on the harvesting and sale of the Spiny Lobster or any parts thereof, which would be harmonized regionally to allow for its reproduction and effective enforcement of the ban.

It was also noted that, at national and regional levels, the Nassau Grouper is still highly vulnerable since it is being harvested heavily during the spawning period.  The Nassau Grouper is a slow growing fish that needs special conditions for spawning, and such conditions occur only a few times in a year. It was recommended that a review should be done regionally to assess the industry operations, through engaging fishers and other sources for empirical data to better understand the state of the resource in the CRFM countries.  Research is ongoing in the Bahamas, which should improve understanding of Nassau grouper biology and ecology in the near future.  Grenada Fisherfolks have reported sighting of juvenile Nassau Grouper; which seems to imply the proximity of spawning areas as yet undocumented.  The CRFM plans to provide comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on their intention to list Nassau Grouper as a threatened species by the deadline of December 31, 2014.

The CRFM has been collaborating with Fisherfolk and relevant institutions to encourage raising awareness and providing policy support on product knowledge; strengthening the science-policy interface; empowering stakeholders; supporting implementation of monitoring, evaluation, adaptive management, and learning.  Through the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) support, the CRFM has been able to strengthen the Fisherfolk capacity and information sharing through training of the fishers through CNFO to take the lead in awareness raising; developing markets; consultations; outreach as part of their capacity building amongst other areas. 

Based on recommendations from the stakeholders at the Workshop on Investing in Blue Growth, it is felt that there is need for continuity of capacity building of Fisherfolk in the area of information sharing on science and policy; succession planning; and risk based science to ensure protection of Fisherfolk against disasters and climate related impacts.

The CRFM is committed to  working with the Fisherfolk and stakeholders to develop the necessary protocols and prepare an implementation plan for the  CFP, and improve the implementation of other policy documents and projects such as the regional aquaculture plan, SPS Project, Nassau grouper, spiny lobster declaration, Sub-regional Flyingfish Management Plan, and the FAO small-scale fisheries guidelines, while building the Fisherfolks’ capacity towards ensuring sustainable use and conservation to provide optimum social and economic benefits to the people of the region.

[Ends]

For more information, please contact:

Milton Haughton

CRFM Executive Director

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http://www.crfm.net/  https://twitter.com/CaribFisheries

Adelle Roopchand, Media Relations, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   https://twitter.com/Adelle

 

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