ABOUT THE PROJECT

The “BE-CLME+”: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus” project seeks to promote blue economy development in the CLME+ through marine spatial planning and strengthening of marine protected areas (MPAs), ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), and sustainable seafood value chains. The CRFM, an inter-governmental CARICOM agency, is the executing agency for the 4-year BE-CLME+ project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which endorsed the Project in November 2022 and provided a US$6.2 million grant for the project.

The participating countries are Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, and Saint Lucia, while the partner organizations are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), CRFM, the University of the West Indies Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (UWI-CERMES), University of Florida Sea Grant, which has committed co-financing of approximately US$41.7 million. The CRFM is the executing agency, while FAO and CAF are the GEF co-implementing agencies. These partners will support the governments of the participating countries in implementing the project interventions, from which benefits will be spread across the region. The project’s budget includes US$25 million in co-financing from CAF, for lines of credit through national financial institutions to support the development of fisheries value chains.

Project Components

The project’s three (3) components are:

• Component 1: Implementing cross-sectoral Marine Spatial Planning.
• Component 2: Inclusive Sustainable Fisheries Value Chains. 
• Component 3: Regional Coordination, Project Management & Knowledge Management.

By the end of the project, there will be marine spatial plans developed at both the regional and national levels, as well as blue economy strategies for the participating countries. Furthermore, the project will support the creation and expansion of areas that benefit from effective area-based management, such as marine management areas and marine protected areas, in recognition of the need for access from a range of stakeholders in a manner that reduces the risk of conflicts.

Project Activities

Carbon Footprint Assessments

• Regional Consultancy to Conduct a Seafood Value Chain Carbon Footprint Analysis [View TOR | English]
• Consultancy for Internalizing climate action best practices in the fisheries industry, through a carbon footprint assessment, and the preparation of carbon mitigation recommendations for a small-scale fishing enterprise in Belize [View TOR | English]

BE Strategies

• National Consultancy to Draft the Blue Economy Roadmap Implementation Plan for the Fisheries Sector in Barbados, including Identification of National Blue Economy Sustainable Financing Options [View TOR | English]
• Consultancy To Conduct A National Blue Economy (Be) Assessment and a Draft BE  Strategy For The Republic Of Panama, Including Identification Of National Sustainable Financing Options For The Blue Economy [View TOR| Spanish | English]

National Data Gap Assessments

• National Consultancies to Analyze Data Needs and Gaps to Inform Marine Spatial Planning

• • Panama [View TOR| Spanish | English]
  • Belize [View TOR | English]
  • Jamaica [View TOR | English]
  • Barbados [View TOR | English]
  • Saint Lucia [View TOR | English] 

Mainstreaming SSF Guidelines

• National Consultancy to provide Capacity Building for Mainstreaming FAO’s Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines into Value Chains in Caribbean Fisheries [View TOR | English] 

Occupational Safety and Health

• Consultancy to provide Training and Develop a Strategy for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in the Seabob Industry and Value Chain for Guyana  [View TOR | English] 

 PHOTOS

 VIDEOS

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Download Inception Report  |  Download Consultation Report

ABOUT THE PROJECT

 In September 2020, the CRFM entered into a 3-year collaborative agreement with Plant & Food Research, to address Sargassum seaweed influxes in affected Caribbean countries. Plant & Food Research, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, and the CRFM, an inter-governmental organization which promotes and facilitates the responsible utilization of the Caribbean's fisheries and other aquatic resources, are collaborating to explore the creation of new technologies and value chains from marine biomass, particularly the Sargassum seaweed.

The overall aim of the project is to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of Sargassum seaweed influxes in affected Caribbean countries through the creation of inclusive value chains for Sargassum seaweed.

 VIEW PROJECT BROCHURE

PHOTOS 

 VIDEOS

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Download User Manual & Field Guide  |  Download Model Sargassum Protocol

The CRFM is seeking a PROJECT COORDINATOR for the CAF/FAO/CRFM/GEF - BE-CLME+ Project: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus.

The CRFM is seeking a suitably qualified Belizean to serve as PROJECT ASSISTANT for the Sargassum Products for Climate Resilience Project.

The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).

The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).

The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).

The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).

The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).

The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).