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Belize City, Friday, 23 September 2016 (CRFM)—Fifteen fisheries personnel, including senior fisheries officers, fisheries officers, analysts and policy officers, traveled to Australia this week to participate in a specialized training course on “Enhancing Fisheries Management Capacity in the Caribbean Region.”

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) partnered in developing the 4-week course, to strengthen the region’s capacity in fisheries law and fisheries management.

More specifically, the training—which is being held at the Innovation Centre at ANCORS, University of Wollongong, ranked among Australia’s top 10 universities—is intended to address the conservation and protection of living marine resources and biodiversity; monitoring and surveillance; as well as measures to curb illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

“This is a great training opportunity for CRFM Member States, and we are grateful for the valued contributions which Australia continues to make to help advance fisheries management and development across the CARICOM region. The CRFM appreciates this sustained support,” said Milton Haughton, CRFM Executive Director.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Government institution which is funding the training, awarded Australian Awards Fellowship to nominees who were selected from 10 CRFM Member States.

It is expected that when the training concludes on October 15, they will partner with relevant stakeholders to help improve frameworks and cooperative agreements at home and across the wider Caribbean, to achieve sustainable fisheries, which would, in turn, mean more dollars for the fishing industry and improved socio-economic conditions in beneficiary states.

This training builds on two previous training workshops, successfully held in Australia in 2012 and 2014. It helps to fulfill a Memorandum of Understanding which the CRFM and ANCORS signed back in 2012.

 

 

The CRFM Secretariat is inviting proposals from suitably qualified Consultants to undertake the following 3 assignments:

1.   Technical support to enhance stakeholder participation in the flyingfish fisheries management process

2.   Technical support to enhance data and information managment for decision support to the Eastern Caribbean flyingfish fishery

3.   Technical support to enhance the governance arrangements for implementing an ecosystem approach for flyingfish fisheries

Completed proposals for each assignment must be submitted to the Executive Director, CRFM no later than 23rd September 2016 at 4:00p.m. (GMT-6). Proposals submitted after this date will not be evaluated. 

Consultants are encourage to carefully review the information and follow the guidelines provided in the Calls for Expression of Interest (EOI)

Monday, 08 August 2016 22:24

CRFM News, June 2016

"Many CRFM states continue to harvest and sell fish as just fish, shrimp as just shrimp. The scales, bones, guts and shells are usually thrown away. But when we do so, are we throwing away other potential profits? And it‟s not just the fishing sector that should ask this important question."

Click the e-newsletter below to navigate online, or download copy via link at the end of this post.

 

Friday, 29 July 2016 12:24

FROM FISH WASTE TO FISH WEALTH

Every single part of the fish has a value…” says CRFM Executive Director, Milton Haughton

 

Caribbean takes first step to maximize value of fisheries and aquaculture sector

 

Belize City, Friday, 29 July 2016 (CRFM)—At a time when countries across the Caribbean region are faced with economic challenges, innovation in one of its prime sectors—the fisheries and aquaculture sector—can spur the kind of growth needed to help buttress the regional economy. However, this kind of change won’t come overnight. The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is working with Member States from around the region, as they prepare to take the first steps in converting fish waste to fish wealth—a change which could multiply earnings from the sector.

“Going forward, we need to make the point that proper utilization of fishery resources is not about increasing production or increasing catches, it is more about maximizing value of what we are now taking and realizing the significant benefits that is possible by focusing on value addition,” said Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the CRFM.

Workshop-participants

Workshop participants from CRFM Member States in Suriname

 

Chief Fisheries Officers, Senior Fisheries Officers and private sector representatives from 17 CRFM Member States learned about the application of the value chain approach to the fisheries and aquaculture sector when they attended a weeklong workshop held in Suriname last week.

“The objective was really to introduce participants to the value chain approach in fisheries, and we did this in collaboration with development partners from Iceland and the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at the University of the West Indies (Dr. Sharon Hutchinson and Dr. Ardon Iton),” Haughton said.

Dadi--Kristofersson-and-Tho

Dadi  Kristofersson and Thor Asgiersson , lecturers from UNU-FTP

 

Dadi Kristofersson, Ogmundur Knutsson and Thor Asgiersson, lecturers from United Nations University – Fisheries Training Program (UNU-FTP), based in Iceland, traveled to Suriname to help lead the training. They also took with them a range of products which Iceland makes from fish waste.

“Iceland has made tremendous advances in value addition in fishers and they are perhaps the world’s leaders,” the CRFM Executive Director said.

This success did not happen overnight—it arose out of a period of crisis, when the country was experiencing a decline in its fisheries after the 1960s. However, Haughton said, they were able to turn things around largely by applying the value chain approach to make better use of their resources—such as improving quality, making beauty products from fish guts and adopting a market-driven approach to fisheries. The Icelandic economy with a per capita GDP of about USD45,000, is driven largely by the fisheries sector.

“They are no longer going out to catch as much fish as they can, but they are trying to optimize the value, and satisfy the requirement of their markets” Haughton explained.

Applying the value chain approach begins with the simple things, starting with preparatory activities before the fishers go to sea, and then extending to harvesting, handling, processing, marketing and distribution.

Basic-fisheries-supply-chai

“We can catch fish in such a way that we maximize value just by targeting ‘when, where, what size, etc.’ we catch based on market demand. Just by doing that you can improve value... In some cases, it’s just about maintaining the freshness and quality by improving the handling of the product,” the CRFM Executive Director explained.

 

Meeting market demand

Whereas Caribbean countries have plenty of fisheries resources, they also import a great deal, including items such as smoked salmon for the tourism industry. Countries like Suriname, the host country for the training, are exploring ways in which they can create viable local products to substitute for those imports. The fisheries experts who traveled to Suriname saw this firsthand, as they were offered smoked “bang-bang” (snapper)—a new local delicacy served right alongside the imported product.

Haughton explained why understanding the market demand is key for producers hoping to corner the market to maximize local gains.

“Think more about the consumer: What is it that the consumer really wants? What is it that the consumer will pay more money for? There would be a major change overall in the way fishers and processors conduct their operations if they were to focus more on the consumers,” he commented.

“The modern consumer, the housewives, are looking for specific products... They are looking for good nutrition, freshness, and easy-to-prepare meals. These are things that fishers and processers will need to be thinking about. And those who have thought through it, and who have structured their operations along these lines, are making great gains,” the CRFM Executive Director added.

He said that in the Caribbean region, fishers and fish processing facilities start with the catch: “Their starting point is to go and catch as much as they can and when the product is landed they try to figure out how to sell it but the value chain approach looks from the other end. It starts with the question: What is the market that I want to serve? Where is the best market? What form of product the market is demanding? Then you work back from the market to determine what fish you should target and you structure all of your activities to satisfy that market,” Haughton recommended.

 

Innovative products from fish

Innovative products from fish

The products pictured above include health supplements, beauty products, and leather

 

Some types of non-selective fishing results in a lot of waste in the fishing industry. Many operations, such as the shrimping in the southern Caribbean, will harvest large quantities of non-target species. Haughton explained that a lot of the non-target species or by-catch is discarded, since it is deemed to have low market value. However, using science, technology and good marketing these can be converted into useful products.

“I was in El Salvador recently and I was surprised to see that they were making cookies and meals for children from flour [derived] from fish that would normally be discarded,” Haughton revealed.

In other places, fish guts are used to make cosmetics and pharmaceuticals—very high end products—and increasingly, companies are using fish enzymes to make creams and lotions.

Haughton said that the CRFM and Member States need to do much to promote the value chain approach in fisheries and aquaculture. The CRFM intends to provide the institutional support, capacity building and awareness raising that is needed. In the months ahead, the CRFM will lead the development of more case studies to document success stories from which the region can learn. These reports would be made available to consumers as well as private sector stakeholders, who will be key in driving the process forward.

“They – the private sector—have to be key stakeholders and partners, and they have to be convinced that it makes sense,” Haughton said.

“There needs to be a free flow of information from consumers to harvesters, right through the chain, so people know what is happening and they can make good decisions. The need for free flow information is an important part of the transition towards the value chain approach in the region,” he added.

Haughton urges development partners in the fisheries sector, as well as training and research institutions, fish processing facilities and government ministries responsible for fisheries and trade, to work together to understand the challenges, remove the constraints and impediments, and provide incentives for development of the value chain in the fisheries sector in the regon.

“We have a long way to go but we have identified some potential fisheries and potential resources where we could begin to apply this approach,” Haughton said.

 

 

Belize City, Monday, 18 July 2016 (CRFM)—The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) will convene a regional workshop for Senior Fisheries Officers from its 17 Member States on applying the value chain approach to maximize fisheries earnings in a week-long event scheduled to run from Monday, July 18 to Friday, July 22, 2016 at the Torarica Hotel, in Paramaribo, Suriname.

The workshop will be conducted with the assistance of experts from the United Nations University-Fisheries Training Program (UNU-FTP) and other partner universities in Iceland, such as the University of Iceland and the University of Akureyri, which will be sharing their expertise in value chain development in fisheries and aquaculture.

The CRFM is also partnering with the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, to implement the upcoming training, which will kick off after a formal opening ceremony scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18.

CRFM Executive Director, Milton Haughton, notes that the initiative is designed to help key government and private sector representatives who operate small and medium-sized fisheries and aquaculture enterprises to become more efficient through capacity-building.

The CRFM, through this initiative, is also partnering with stakeholders to promote the value chain approach and to maximize the use of this approach to unlock the Caribbean’s full potential. The CRFM expects that the key actors in the sector who are being targeted will better understand the value chain approach and use it to assess the primary constraints that affect them. They should also be able to identify opportunities for investments and other interventions to generate greater returns for the sector. Ultimately, this initiative aims to improve the overall profitability and sustainability of the industry.

Furthermore, the CRFM will lead and support the development of action plans for member countries, after pilot studies are conducted at selected locations.

 

Belize City, Tuesday, 5 July 2016 (CRFM)—Milton Haughton, the Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), met today at the CRFM’s Secretariat in Belize City with Mr. Masaru Honda, Team Leader of the Japan-funded Caribbean Fisheries Co-management Project (CARIFICO) and Chief Advisor in the Fisheries Department in St. Lucia.

“The CRFM welcomes Mr. Honda to Belize to meet with us, and we thank the Government of Japan for their continued commitment and support for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector of the Caribbean region,” Haughton said.

Honda meets with CRFM staff in Belize City

Honda (second, counterclockwise) meets with CRFM Secretariat staff in Belize City

 

Honda, whose ties with the Caribbean go back 17 years, when he worked with a JICA funded Regional Fisheries Project implemented by the Caribbean Fisheries Training and Development Institute (CFTDI) in Trinidad and Tobago, said that he has enjoyed working with the Caribbean to foster the development of co-management arrangements with fishing communities.

Haughton and Honda discussed the region’s progress in implementing the multi-million-dollar CARIFICO project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which focuses on improving the co-management of fisheries in the region, in order to improve the socio-economic status and the welfare of fishers and fishing communities.

Haughton and Honda meeting at CRFM Secretariat in Belize City

Haughton (left) and Honda (right) discuss new initiatives under the JICA-funded CARIFICO project

 

They also discussed two new initiatives under the project: (1) the strengthening of co-management of the conch fishery in St. Lucia, and (2) a survey of the socio-economic status of fisheries in the region, using 6 countries in the Eastern Caribbean as pilot sites. The results of the survey will be presented at a regional workshop slated for 2018, at which time the findings of the survey and the outputs of the pilot projects will be the center of deliberations by CRFM Member States.

Haughton said that in Japan, co-management arrangements are well developed, and through the CRFM-JICA partnership, milestones have been achieved in Dominica, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda in the sustainable development of pelagic fisheries using fish aggregating devices (FADs).

FAD-construction-in-Grenada

FAD assembly in Grenada

Furthermore, the Government of Japan has provided direct grants to some CRFM Member States for the deployment of mega-FADs, which are larger and more durable, and enable higher production of larger tunas. The support from Japan has helped the region to diversify its fisheries sector while targeting pelagic species in a more cost-effective manner. Fishers are able to save money with the reduced costs of operation, since they can troll for fish at the FADs where target species aggregate.

Haughton said that through the initiative, CRFM and JICA have partnered in promoting co-management through the establishment and management of the FAD fishery with expertise and technology transferred to the region by the Japanese. The CARIFICO Project is also assisting with the development of co-management arrangements for the pot/trap fishery in Antigua and Barbuda, and the queen conch fisheries in Saint Lucia. 

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, 30 June 2016--The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) joined in the celebration of fishers across the Caribbean on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, and particularly in festivities held in Belize, where the CRFM's headquarters in located, and where June is being observed as Fisherfolk Month for the first time.

Speaking at ceremonies held on Wednesday morning, June 29--marked regionally and internationally as Fisherfolk Day, to recognize three outstanding fishers--Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the CRFM, said: "Fishery and by extension, our fisherfolk, have always been a big part of Caribbean economies. This is why today is such as special day on the calendar of fisherfolk in the region and globally."

Haughton handed over a check for $200 to Cesar Muñoz, a fisherman of Sarteneja Village, Corozal, in northern Belize, who was chosen as Fisher of the Year in Belize for his notable contributions in promoting sustainable fishing practices. Muñoz is the chairman of the Sarteneja Fishermen Association.

The annual Punta Fuego Awards are organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society in Belize, in partnership with the CRFM, the Belize Fisheries Department, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations and The Nature Conservancy.

Guadaloupe Lampella of Riversdale in southern Belize, the sister of last year's Fisher of the Year, Anna Ramirez, was also recognized as an outstanding fisher at the event. So too was Juan Muñoz, a relative of this year’s winning fisher, who also hails from Sarteneja.

"It is a time to reflect upon, acknowledge and recognize the very important contribution that fishermen and fisherwomen make to the social and economic development of Belize and the CARICOM countries," Haughton said.

He noted that for this year's international celebration of fishers, the United Nations Food and Agriculture agreed to focus on “Securing fishers’ rights and livelihoods with the small-scale Fisheries Guidelines.”

"The subject of understanding, securing and respecting the right of small-scale fishers is an important issue. In many countries small-scale fisheries have been marginalized and displaced and find themselves in conflict with a wide variety of interest groups and investors who are competing for access to resources used by fishers," Haughton added.

The CRFM Executive Director emphasized that, "The time has come when we as a region must give more serious attention to the needs of our small-scale fishers, who often work under difficult circumstances and have been making such an important contribution to food and nutrition security, and who provide for their families and communities."

Haughton pledged the continued support of the CRFM for fishers in Belize, as well as its 16 other Member States across the Caribbean.

"We at the CRFM look forward to working closely with the fisherfolk and all other partners to secure the rights and livelihoods of fisheries in Belize and throughout the CARICOM region through the FAO Small-scale Fisheries Guidelines," he said.

In concluding, Haughton acknowledged the hard work of fishers all across the Caribbean, adding that the CRFM "acknowledges, recognizes and commends the strong, hardworking, dedicated fishermen and fishermen and other fishworkers as well as their families."

 

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, 30 June 2016--The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) joined in the celebration of fishers across the Caribbean on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, and particularly in festivities held in Belize, where the CRFM's headquarters in located, and where June is being observed as Fisherfolk Month for the first time.

Speaking at ceremonies held on Wednesday morning, June 29--marked regionally and internationally as Fisherfolk Day, to recognize three outstanding fishers--Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the CRFM, said: "Fishery and by extension, our fisherfolk, have always been a big part of Caribbean economies. This is why today is such as special day on the calendar of fisherfolk in the region and globally."

Haugnton handed over a check for $200 to Cesar Muñoz, a fisherman of Sarteneja Village, Corozal, in northern Belize, who was chosen as Fisher of the Year in Belize for his notable contributions in promoting sustainable fishing practices.

The annual Punta Fuego Awards are organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society in Belize, in partnership with the CRFM, the Belize Fisheries Department, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations and The Nature Conservancy.

Guadalupe Lampella of Riversdale in southern Belize, the sister of last year's Fisher of the Year, Anna Ramirez, was also recognized as an outstanding fisher at the event. So too was Juan Muñoz, a relative of this year’s winning fisher, who also hails from Sarteneja.

"It is a time to reflect upon, acknowledge and recognize the very important contribution that fishermen and fisherwomen make to the social and economic development of Belize and the CARICOM countries," Haughton said.

He noted that for this year's international celebration of fishers, the United Nations Food and Agriculture agreed to focus on “Securing fishers’ rights and livelihoods with the small-scale Fisheries Guidelines.”

"The subject of understanding, securing and respecting the right of small-scale fishers is an important issue. In many countries small-scale fisheries have been marginalized and displaced and find themselves in conflict with a wide variety of interest groups and investors who are competing for access to resources used by fishers," Haughton added.

The CRFM Executive Director emphasized that, "The time has come when we as a region must give more serious attention to the needs of our small-scale fishers, who often work under difficult circumstances and have been making such an important contribution to food and nutrition security, and who provide for their families and communities."

Haughton pledged the continued support of the CRFM for fishers in Belize, as well as its 16 other Member States across the Caribbean.

"We at the CRFM look forward to working closely with the fisherfolk and all other partners to secure the rights and livelihoods of fisheries in Belize and throughout the CARICOM region through the FAO Small-scale Fisheries Guidelines," he said.

In concluding, Haughton acknowledged the hard work of fishers all across the Caribbean, adding that the CRFM "acknowledges, recognizes and commends the strong, hardworking, dedicated fishermen and fishermen and other fishworkers as well as their families."

BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, 30 June 2016--The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) joined in the celebration of fishers across the Caribbean on Wednesday, June 29, 2016, and particularly in festivities held in Belize, where the CRFM's headquarters in located, and where June is being observed as Fisherfolk Month for the first time.

Speaking at ceremonies held on Wednesday morning, June 29--marked regionally and internationally as Fisherfolk Day, to recognize three outstanding fishers--Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the CRFM, said: "Fishery and by extension, our fisherfolk, have always been a big part of Caribbean economies. This is why today is such as special day on the calendar of fisherfolk in the region and globally."

Haugnton handed over a check for $200 to Cesar Muñoz, a fisherman of Sarteneja Village, Corozal, in northern Belize, who was chosen as Fisher of the Year in Belize for his notable contributions in promoting sustainable fishing practices.

The annual Punta Fuego Awards are organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society in Belize, in partnership with the CRFM, the Belize Fisheries Department, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations and The Nature Conservancy.

Guadalupe Lampella of Riversdale in southern Belize, the sister of last year's Fisher of the Year, Anna Ramirez, was also recognized as an outstanding fisher at the event. So too was Juan Muñoz, a relative of this year’s winning fisher, who also hails from Sarteneja.

"It is a time to reflect upon, acknowledge and recognize the very important contribution that fishermen and fisherwomen make to the social and economic development of Belize and the CARICOM countries," Haughton said.

He noted that for this year's international celebration of fishers, the United Nations Food and Agriculture agreed to focus on “Securing fishers’ rights and livelihoods with the small-scale Fisheries Guidelines.”

"The subject of understanding, securing and respecting the right of small-scale fishers is an important issue. In many countries small-scale fisheries have been marginalized and displaced and find themselves in conflict with a wide variety of interest groups and investors who are competing for access to resources used by fishers," Haughton added.

The CRFM Executive Director emphasized that, "The time has come when we as a region must give more serious attention to the needs of our small-scale fishers, who often work under difficult circumstances and have been making such an important contribution to food and nutrition security, and who provide for their families and communities."

Haughton pledged the continued support of the CRFM for fishers in Belize, as well as its 16 other Member States across the Caribbean.

"We at the CRFM look forward to working closely with the fisherfolk and all other partners to secure the rights and livelihoods of fisheries in Belize and throughout the CARICOM region through the FAO Small-scale Fisheries Guidelines," he said.

In concluding, Haughton acknowledged the hard work of fishers all across the Caribbean, adding that the CRFM "acknowledges, recognizes and commends the strong, hardworking, dedicated fishermen and fishermen and other fishworkers as well as their families."

 

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) will be hosting the 10th Meeting of its Ministerial Council next Wednesday, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The CRFM Ministerial Council, which is comprised of ministers from 17 Member States responsible for fisheries, aquaculture and/or agriculture, is convening for an update on technical activities undertaken by the CRFM, as well as for policy direction and guidance on the way forward, in achieving the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture in the Caribbean region.

On the occasion of the meeting, the chairmanship of the Council will be handed over from Grenada to Jamaica.  A vice chair will also be selected.

The outgoing chairman is Roland Bhola, Minister of agriculture, lands, forestry, fisheries and the environment of Grenada.

 

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