Belize City, Tuesday, 2 June 2026 (CRFM)—Amid rising energy costs and growing climate pressures affecting Caribbean Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is ramping up clean energy interventions under the CAD4.324 million STAR-Fish Project: “Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries.”
Implementation activities across participating countries—Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname—will focus on strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture through clean energy solutions and low-carbon development. Planned interventions include the identification and deployment of renewable energy technologies, including cold storage solutions to improve cold chain efficiency, as well as support for selected fisheries to pursue low-carbon certification.

Participants engaged in the “Powering Change: Fueling a Gender-Responsive Energy Transition in Fisheries” training and workshop series held in Grenada during Year 2 of the STAR-Fish Project’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion consultancy implemented by EnGen Collaborative.
At the 2nd Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting held on 14 May 2026, Sherron Barker, Regional Project Coordinator for the STAR-Fish Project, presented the approved 2026–2027 Work Plan and Budget, which will guide the next phase of implementation. Key near-term priorities include developing viable business models to support investment in clean energy technologies, advancing the conversion of selected fish processing operations, and strengthening market opportunities for low-carbon certified fisheries.
Ms. Ena Ćimić, STAR-Fish Project Lead at the High Commission of Canada to Jamaica, representing Global Affairs Canada (GAC), acknowledged that the Caribbean’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are important drivers of economic activity, livelihoods, and food security across the region. Addressing the meeting, she noted that, “the sectors also remain highly vulnerable to climate change, rising energy costs, and evolving market demands.”
Ms. Ćimić added: “the activities implemented through this project position STAR-Fish to further strengthen institutional capacity, advance gender-responsive approaches, and support the adoption of sustainable energy technologies within the fisheries and aquaculture sector, while also improving access to finance, enhancing competitiveness, and building resilience to climate and disaster risks across participating countries.”
Reflecting on progress during the previous year, Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the CRFM Secretariat, noted that STAR-Fish advanced key technical workstreams, including renewable energy business model development, carbon footprinting, and low-carbon certification processes. He added that Project Year 2 marked an important transition as the project moved from foundational planning toward more structured and coordinated implementation across participating countries.

Westmoreland, Jamaica Seamoss farmers participated in consultations and capacity-building activities under the “Powering Change: Fueling a Gender-Responsive Energy Transition in Fisheries” initiative implemented through the STAR-Fish Project’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion consultancy led by EnGen Collaborative.
Dr. Williams added: “One of the project’s key achievements during the reporting period was the completion of major activities on gender equality and social inclusion. This work strengthened understanding of gender and social issues associated with the clean energy transition, supported the development of national and regional guidance tools through Gender Action Plans (GAPs) for Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and advanced gender-responsive capacity building and stakeholder engagement across participating countries.”
Ms. Ćimić said that GAC welcomed STAR-Fish’s gender-responsive approach, vital to strengthening national capacities, promoting inclusion, and ensuring that the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared equitably.
“This aligns with Canada’s priorities of advancing gender equality, climate action, and sustainable, inclusive growth, while also supporting expanded trade opportunities in the region,” she said, pledging GAC’s continued support for the CRFM initiative.
Dr. Williams said that the project now enters Project Year 3 with “activities underway, strengthened governance arrangements, and a clearer pathway toward the practical application of renewable energy solutions across fisheries value chains in the Caribbean.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with all of you to support effective implementation and to contribute to a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive Caribbean fisheries sector,” Ćimić affirmed.
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Belize City, Belize, 24 April 2026 (CRFM)—The Caribbean Fisheries Forum, comprised of 17 heads of fisheries authorities across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is convening its 24th Regular Meeting this week. The Forum, which provides technical guidance to the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), began its meeting on Thursday, 23 April 2026, with deliberations on the CRFM’s Seventh Biennial Work Plan (2026-2027), which sets the framework for the regional fisheries body to advance the development of fisheries and aquaculture across the region. Today’s agenda is focused on pressing regional and international developments, as well as the status and trends of the sector.

Across the Caribbean Community, approximately half-a-million people are employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including 122,198 fishers, 4,926 aquaculture farmers, and 412,078 others who hold fisheries-dependent jobs across the value chain.
Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the CRFM, said: “The Caribbean Fisheries Forum provides the CRFM with a platform to discuss fish stocks, the blue economy, marine ecosystems, and fishing activities. Given the proximity of the Member States in the Caribbean and the transboundary nature of the fish stocks, cooperation is essential for the sustainable management of these stocks.”
He added that, “The Forum meeting provides a platform for the Member States to share data, examine common challenges such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, habitat degradation, and overfishing, and coordinate policies that protect resources while supporting livelihoods. Additionally, it reinforces partnerships among governments, fisherfolk organizations, researchers, and other nongovernmental organizations to foster trust, harmonize plans, improve enforcement, and attract funding for joint projects that benefit the CRFM Member States.”
On Thursday, 24 April 2026, the Forum also held elections for a new Chair and Vice Chair, as well as members of the Executive Committee of the Forum and the Resource Mobilization Sub-committee. After the elections, Mr. Ian Horsford, Chief Fisheries Officer, Antigua and Barbuda, assumed the Chair, succeeding Mr. Remone Johnson of the Turks and Caicos Islands for the next year.
"In these times of geopolitical uncertainty, CRFM—through its various organs such as the Forum—remains a shining example of what can be achieved through multilateralism as we chart the way forward for the sustainable development of Caribbean fisheries and blue economy," Mr. Horsford said.
The two-day meeting, which concludes today, Friday, 24 April, addresses the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as cross-cutting dimensions related to climate change, adaptation, and innovation, including the strategic adoption of renewable energy options within seafood value chains. The Forum’s deliberations also encompass initiatives to combat IUU fishing and fisheries crime, as well as gender mainstreaming in fisheries.
Furthermore, the Forum is providing technical guidance on two new protocols under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP): a protocol on marine spatial planning and the other on aquatic foods traceability, which involves tracking seafood across the value chain. Deliberations extend to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement), as well as the International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution—all important legal instruments for the sector.
This week’s Forum meeting precedes the upcoming 20th Regular Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council, comprised of Ministers from the CRFM’s Member States.
The Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries (COASTFISH) concluded in 2025. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded COASTFISH Project, implemented through IC Net Ltd. of Japan in collaboration with the CRFM, has successfully supported a diverse range of pilot initiatives across the region aimed at enhancing the sustainability and resilience of coastal fisheries. The CRFM is pleased to share some key outputs delivered under the project.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Juvenile Queen Conch Survey
Guidelines for Installation and Monitoring of Artificial Reefs in Caribbean Countries
Outcome Statements for COASTFISH Project
Report on the Regional COASTFISH Seminar (Third Term)
Report of the First Regional COASTFISH Workshop

Belize City, Belize, 23 March 2026 (CRFM)—Fishers from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) recently concluded a very successful exchange in Grenada. From March 16-19, a delegation of six fishers, supported by two fisheries officers, gained firsthand knowledge on the construction and deployment of fish aggregating devices (FADs). FADs can be very effective in attracting fish in the open sea, thereby boosting production, exports, and economic impacts. The Turks and Caicos Islands hopes to also reap these long-term benefits from the recent fisher exchange.

Representatives of Grenada, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the CRFM Secretariat based in Belize partnered to provide invaluable hands-on learning on FAD fishing technology for sustainable livelihoods
(Photo: Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, Grenada)
Grenada’s FAD technology has been modernized under the World Bank-funded project titled, Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC), which commenced implementation in 2022. However, Grenada was also one of six Member States of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) which benefited from the mainstreaming of FAD fishing technology under the Japan-funded Caribbean Fisheries Co-management (CARIFICO) project, implemented between 2012-2017 in partnership with the CRFM. Since then, the CRFM has been facilitating knowledge transfer to other Member States, building upon this foundational work. It previously facilitated a similar exchange through which Grenada also shared its FAD expertise with Jamaica. This exchange, executed through the fisheries authorities in Grenada and TCI, was also facilitated by the CRFM.
Grenada’s Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, Hon. Lennox Andrews, said: “I see this as one very good example where, as a people, we can come together and work together to share our knowledge, share experiences, and create the competence and the human resources that we all need to develop our region.”
CRFM Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Sandra Grant, noted that this fisher exchange will provide TCI fishers with an initial understanding of FAD technology and an opportunity to reflect on how it can be applied in the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide year-round income generation for fishers.
The goal of the fisher exchange was to strengthen regional fisheries cooperation and support sustainable livelihoods. The visit of the TCI delegation to Grenada provided valuable hands-on exposure to Grenada’s well-established FAD fishery, allowing participants to observe operations, fishing techniques, and the harvesting of key pelagic species, including yellowfin tunas weighing over 100 pounds. Participants also took part in the construction of FADs, gaining practical, technical experience that will be directly applicable to TCI’s planned FAD pilot programme.

Turks and Caicos Islands fishers learn to build FADs in Grenada
(Photo: Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, Grenada)
By the end of the fisher exchange, it was clear that the Grenada experience—which enabled TCI fishers to witness the scale and efficiency of Grenada’s FAD operations—had a monumental impact upon the fishers who participated. In a closing session held last Thursday, Mr. David Clare said, “It’s the greatest fishing [technology] I’ve ever seen in my life, and it works perfectly!”
Another fisher, Mr. Kevin Harvey, noted how effective the FADs were in capturing fish in the middle of the ocean compared with trolling from shore to where the FADs had been deployed.
For his part, Mr. Dwaine Cox shared Mr. Clare’s enthusiasm for this invaluable learning opportunity. He said that they have been talking for a while about the need for the TCI to diversify its fishing industry, and the time has now come to do so.

FADs deliver prized catch (105 lbs)
(Photo: Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, Grenada)
The Director of the TCI’s Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management, Mr. Alwyn R. Ponteen, stated: “The Department deeply values the traditional knowledge and dedication of the TCI fishers. They demonstrate a readiness to embrace new techniques with a progressive mindset. This programme represents a strategic and sustainable investment in the youths, men, and women who form the backbone of our fisheries sector. It also advances our collective commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 2, 8 and 14 - 'Zero Hunger', 'Decent Work and Economic Growth' and 'Life Below Water', respectively.”
Mr. Nigel Gibbs, Chief Fisheries Officer (Ag.), Fisheries Division, Grenada, said: “We do look forward to continued collaboration and believe that this is the beginning of a lasting Caribbean relationship that will grow stronger in the future."
The collaborators expressed their gratitude to Jamaica for its hospitality towards the TCI delegation during their stopover on their way to Grenada.

The TCI delegation with Dr. Grant of the CRFM
(Photo: Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, Grenada)
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) remains resolute in its commitment to develop a sustainable FAD fishery as part of its Sustainable Livelihoods Strategy. TCIG plans to launch its FAD pilot programme in the coming months. This will include robust stakeholder consultations, FAD construction and deployment, development of a fisheries management plan grounded in best practices, and advancement of the necessary legislative reforms to support a sustainable FAD fishery.
– END –
Belize City, Belize, 3 March 2026 (CRFM)—Representatives of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), headquartered in Belize, and the GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme (FTP), met last week to explore ways to strengthen cooperation with CRFM Member States and to further enhance the region's capacity in fisheries management and development. The discussion took place on Friday, February 27, 2026, at GRÓ FTP in Reykjavik, Iceland. Dr. Marc Williams, CRFM Executive Director, met with Mr. Thor Ásgeirsson, GRÓ FTP Director, and Stefán Úlfarsson, Specialist, to chart the way forward.

From left to right: Dr. Marc Williams, CRFM Executive Director; GRÓ FTP 2025-2026 fellow - Ms. Deandra Roberts of Jamaica; Mr. Thor Ásgeirsson, GRÓ FTP Director; and GRÓ FTP 2025-2026 fellow - Ms. Annakay Crawford of Jamaica
This engagement builds upon 18 years of collaboration between the parties. The CRFM and GRÓ FTP, formerly the United Nations University Fisheries Training Program (UNU FTP), entered into a memorandum of understanding in 2008 to enhance institutional capacity. Under this arrangement, Caribbean fisheries practitioners continue to benefit from GRÓ FTP training, including short courses, six-month training programs, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

Currently, the CRFM and GRÓ FTP are conducting a capacity needs assessment of the CRFM fisheries administrations and the CRFM Secretariat. Two GRÓ FTP fellows from Jamaica, Ms. Annakay Crawford and Ms. Deandra Roberts, are gathering and analyzing data for the assessment, which will provide the evidence that the Member States and the CRFM Secretariat need to chart the future direction of their respective organizations.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the FAO’s 2nd Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Subcommittee Meeting on Fisheries Management in Iceland, Ms. Crawford and Ms. Roberts briefed the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines delegation—Honorable Conroy Huggins, Minister of Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation, and Climate Resilience, and Mr. Kris Isaacs, Senior Fisheries Officer—on their progress. The delegation reaffirmed its commitment to support the successful completion of the assessment reports.
Last September, the CRFM Ministerial Council—comprised of ministers responsible for fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)—issued a resolution approving the CRFM Capacity Needs Assessment Roadmap 2025. The Council said it looks forward to the successful completion of the regional and national capacity assessment summaries that would support a more holistic response in addressing the gaps at both the regional and national levels.
Dr. Williams said: “The CRFM Secretariat acknowledges and thanks all Member States that have been contributing to the Capacity Needs Assessment. These inputs have been essential in enabling a comprehensive regional analysis of our institutional and human capacities, in accordance with the directives of the CRFM Ministerial Council. Continued collaboration is critical as the process advances toward validation and subsequent presentation to the Council.”
Since 2008, sixty-five (65) Caribbean fisheries professionals have benefited from training through GRÓ FTP. Several of the program's alumni have moved on to leadership roles within fisheries administrations, the CRFM Secretariat, and the CRFM Ministerial Council. Notably, Ministerial Council member, the Honorable Jullan Defoe, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy in Dominica, and the CRFM Secretariat’s Executive Director, Dr. Williams, both received fisheries training from GRÓ FTP.
GRÓ FTP, which promotes sustainable use and management of living aquatic resources, has reaffirmed its desire to continue supporting the development of fisheries management capacity and the training of future Caribbean leaders.
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is pleased to announce that the full proceedings of the Twentieth Anniversary Scientific Conference is now available online. The publication is listed on our official publications page, and individual papers can be accessed below. The publication is available in two volumes: Volume I: Technical Papers and Volume II: National Reports.
The CRFM expresses its sincerest gratitude and appreciation to all who contributed in any way to this monumental undertaking, especially the 130 authors who contributed their invaluable expertise. Together, the publications total almost 900 pages, comprised of 77 papers, including 17 reports on the status of fisheries and aquaculture across the CRFM Member States. Below are the 10 thematic areas captured in the publication:
Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:
Proceedings of the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference
1.1 | Driving Circular Economy By Transforming Fish Parts From Processing (“Fish Waste”): a Barbadian Case Study for Resource Optimization in the Caribbean Countries
Authors: Yvette Diei Ouadi et al
1.2 | Food for Thought: Fisheries and Aquaculture Contributions to Food Security in the Caribbean
Authors: Maria Delesalle et al
1.3 | Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of the Fisheries Sectors within CARIFORUM Countries for Improved Market Access Under the Economic Partnership Agreement
Authors: Janet L. Lawrence and Peter A. Murray
1.4 | Inventory of Marine Fish and Aquaculture Factory Processing Establishments in CRFM Member States
Authors: S. C. Grant et al
2.1 | The Regional Aspect of Fisheries Governance in the Wider Caribbean
Authors: Robin Mahon and Lucia M. Fanning
2.2 | Review of the Legal and Policy Framework for Sustainable Use of the Living Marine Resources of the CRFM Member States
Author: Milton O. Haughton
2.3 | Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Suite of Laws for the Barbados Fisheries Sector
Authors: Shelly-Ann Cox et al
2.4 | A Review of National Intersectoral Committee (NIC) Governance Arrangements for Shrimp and Groundfish in the Northern Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NBSLME)
Author: Sanya S. Compton
2.5 | Developing a Policy Framework for Gender Mainstreaming in the Fisheries Sector
Author: Peter A. Murray
2.6 | The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: CARICOM’s Interests, Participation and Outcome
Author: Nigel Durrant
2.7 | The Need for Rigor in the Fisheries Space - Why the Term “IUU Fishing” is a Hindrance
Author: Ian Ralby
3.1 | Implementing a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan to Inform Fisheries Governance in the Wider Caribbean
Authors: Lucia M. Fanning and Robin Mahon
3.2 | Analysis of Trends in Production, Fleet, Trade and Economic Contribution of the Fisheries and Aquaculture in CRFM Member States
Authors: Pranaya Parida et al
3.3 | Data Management for Fisheries Management: Addressing Challenges and Unleashing Revolutionary Innovations
Author: Vilhjálmur Hallgrímsson
3.4 | Leveraging Lessons From the Caribbean to Enhance the Value-Chain Approach in Developing Sustainable Small-Scale Capture Fisheries
Authors: Alexander S.T. Girvan et al
3.5 | Commercial Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment to Determine Sustainable Quotas in Belize
Authors: Kenneth Esquivel et al
3.6 | DIGIFISH: Data Driven Solutions to Inform Decision Making
Authors: Shelly-Ann Cox et al
3.7 | Video methodologies for deep water surveying of queen conch (Strombus gigas): a comparison study in Turks & Caicos Islands
Authors: J Van Rijn et al
3.8 | Modern Tools for Fisheries Data Collection and Data Management: Experiences From Suriname
Authors: Tomas Willems et al
3.9 | Assessing the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Overfishing Implications for Guyana’s Seabob Shrimp Industry
Authors: Ray Netwon and Mikhail Amsterdam
3.10 | Digitizing the Vessel Inspection Process in Barbados
Authors: Adriel Jackman et al
3.11 | Comparative Analysis of Shark Capture Data: Species Composition, Diversity, and Abundance Along the Northeast Coast of Trinidad
Authors: Imran Khan et al
3.12 | Socio-Economic Features of Antigua’s Small-Scale Fisheries Sector – Implications for Economic Security and Sustainable Development
Author: Ian Horsford
3.13 | The Evolution of Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting of Fisheries Data for the Commonwealth of Dominica
Authors: Derrick Theophile and Kurt Hilton
3.14 | Improving Social and Economic Resilience Through Enhanced Regional Trade in Fish and Seafood
Authors: Milton O. Haughton and Adele O. Ramos
3.15 | Biology and Diseases of Panulirus argus on Saint Kitts and Nevis
Authors: Nicole A. M. Atherley Herbert et al
4.1 | CRFM’s Training and Capacity Building Activities: 2003-2023
Authors: Pamela Gibson et al
4.2 | Investigating the Economic Implications of Weather-Related Damages and Theft on Fishing Vessels: a Survey-Based Analysis in the Coastal Communities of Trinidad
Authors: Vivan Alexander et al
4.3 | Women Empowerment in the Belize Fishing Industry
Authors: Sandra C. Grant et al
4.4 | Reflections on a Collaborative Program to Build Capacity in the Caribbean Fisheries Resource Management Sector
Authors: Nancy Montes and Charles Sidman
5.1 | A Bioeconomic Approach for Sea Cucumber Mariculture in the Caribbean
Authors: Ricardo Anthony Morris (rescheduled to Thursday)
5.2 | Looking Back Before Moving Forward: Learning From History to Develop Aquaculture and Mariculture in Barbados
Authors: Christopher Parker and Colvin Taylor
5.3 | Restorative Aquaculture: How Commercially Important Sea Urchins Can Aid in Coral Reef Recovery
Author: Stacey M. Williams
5.4 | Investigating the Effectiveness of Three Different Growing Methods for Seamoss Farming in Saint Lucia
Author: Makeba B. Felix
5.5 | Evaluating the outcomes of selective breeding in optimizing the growth performance of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) for commercial production in the Bahamas
Authors: Mia Avril and John Reid
5.6 | Outlook and Key Considerations for Sustainable Commercial Aquaculture Development in CARICOM
Authors: Samia Sarkis et al
6.1 | Historical Local and Traditional Knowledge and Key Messages for Present-Day Holistic Fisheries Management – An Example from Haiti
Authors: Susan Singh-Renton et al
6.2 | Sustainable Harvesting of Commercial Species in the Belize Exclusive Economic Zone
Authors: Silvana N. R. Birchenough et al
6.3 | An Assessment of the Reproductive Activity of Queen Conch (Aliger gigas) in Captive and Wild Populations in the Discovery Bay Special Fishery Conservation Area, Jamaica
Authors: Shanna-Lee Thomas et al
6.4 | Use of a Maritime Domain Awareness Tool for Detecting Fishing Activity in the Waters of Caribbean States
Authors: Peter A. Murray et al
6.5 | Update on the Status and Management of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster Fisheries in the CARICOM Region
Authors: Maren Headley et al
6.6 | What is the Right Balance Between International Management and the Involvement of Fishing Communities in the Management of Caribbean Spiny Lobster Fisheries?
Author: Lester Gittens
6.7 | The Fish Sanctuaries Network: Jamaica’s Quiet Fisheries Success Story
Authors: Karl A. Aiken et al
6.8 | Ten Years of Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Closed Season: Evidence From Antigua and Barbuda’s Small-Scale Fishery
Authors: Ian Horsford and Hilroy Simon
6.9 | Utilization of Artificial Reefs for Enhancement of Spiny Lobster Resource
Authors: Hiroaki Terashima et al
6.10 | Uncovering Stakeholder Perspectives on Belize's Managed Access Program: Implications for Sustainable Fisheries Management
Author: Eric Wade
6.11 | Recommended Strategies to Protect Parrotfish Populations in Barbados
Authors: Christopher Parker and Shelly-Ann Cox
7.1 | The Role of Climate Risk Insurance in Building Resilience of the Fisheries Sector– the Coast (Caribbean Oceans and Aquaculture Sustainability Facility) Example and Application
Authors: Isaac Anthony et al
7.2 | Gender Perspectives in Social, Blue and Climate Justice
Authors: Maria Pena and Patrick Mcconney
7.3 | Sargassum in the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunity for Blue Growth Based on the Circular Economy Approach
Authors: Mario Ayalon et al
8.1 | Fisherfolk Organisations in Fisheries Governance and Policy
Authors: Patrick Mcconney and Maria Pena
8.2 | Regional Cooperation Among CRFM, OSPESCA and WECAFC for Sustainable Fisheries in the Caribbean
Author: Milton O. Haughton
8.3 | An Examination of Integrated Marine Planning and Management in CARICOM and the Wider Caribbean Region
Author: Mikhail Amsterdam
8.4 | Regional Cooperation on Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries Management in the Wider Caribbean Region
Authors: Geraldine Conruyt et al
8.5 | Transforming Our Seas and Oceans Resources Collaboratively with Accredited Development Partners for the Benefit of all
Author: Alwyn R. Ponteen
8.6 | The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Potential for Regional Ocean Science Coordination and Partnership
Authors: Lorna V Inniss and Cesar Toro
8.7 | A Modernized and Results-Based ICT Framework to Strengthen Institutional Governance, Administration, Productivity, Outreach, Visibility, and Engagement
Author: Adele O. Ramos
9.1 | Promoting a Fishery-Centered Blue Economy Through Co-Benefits and Knowledge Sharing
Authors: Nariaki Mikuni and Saori Imamura
9.2 | Building the Capacity of Aquaculture and the Blue Economy in the Caribbean
Author: Juli-Anne Russo
9.3 | Laying the Foundation for Blue Economic Growth in the Caribbean: the BE-CLME+ Project
Authors: Milton Haughton & Maren Headley
10.1 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Anguilla
Author: Remone Johnson
10.2 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Antigua and Barbuda
Author: Hilroy Simon
10.3 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | The Bahamas
Author: Alexandra Sinclair
10.4 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Barbados
Author: Gregory Franklin
10.5 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Belize
Author: Kenneth Esquivel
10.6 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Dominica
Author: Kurt Hilton
10.7 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Grenada
Author: Justin Rennie
10.8 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Guyana
Author: Denzil Roberts
10.9 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Haiti
Author: CRFM Secretariat
10.10 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Jamaica
Author: Dr. Azra Blythe Mallett
10.11 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Montserrat
Author: Alwyn Ponteen
10.12 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Saint Kitts and Nevis
Author: Kadean Smithen
10.13 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Saint Lucia
Author: Makeba Felix
10.14 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Author: Jennifer Cruickshank-Howard
10.15 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Suriname
Author: Zojindra Arjune
10.16 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | Trinidad and Tobago
Author: Shandira Ankiah
10.17 | National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture | The Turks and Caicos Islands
Author: Kathy Lockhart
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Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Religious Affairs,
Turks and Caicos Islands, Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management
Document prepared by Kathy Lockhart, MSc., Assistant Director Fisheries
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Turks and Caicos Islands. (August 2023)
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) and Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management (FMRM) has been through significant changes from natural phenomenon (storms), economic effects (economic downturns COVID19), and inter-government department changes. FMRM and the Ministry have been actively reviewing priority areas in the fisheries sector; drafted proposed amendments to the fisheries legislation, sought stakeholder participation for alternatives and diversification for the commercial fishery, and collaborated with external agencies for internationally funded research/data collection for the fisheries. As the fisheries industry is evolving, the TCIG continues to develop alternative aspects of the fisheries. Alternatives include re-development of Aquaculture with guided legislation instruments, increase and strengthen the recreational fishing activities, investigate pelagic fishing activities and harmonize the various stakeholder needs of the fisheries including food security. Both Caribbean Spiny Lobster and Queen Conch continue to be captured as commercially important fisheries for export. However, the domestic market has increased in both need and economic incentives for all marine fisheries including that of the Fin-fish fishery. The current Government has taken the approach to encourage and maintain food security from both the fisheries and agriculture sectors. With the assistance of internationally funded projects, TCIG has been able to obtain additional data for the Queen conch, development of Stakeholder landing sites and development of Fin-fish age & growth parameters.
HOW TO CITE: Lockhart, K., 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in The Turks and Caicos Islands. Contribution 10.17, p 229-239 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume II: National Reports on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Papers presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=971
Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:
Proceedings of the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference
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If you have challenges accessing or downloading documents in this series, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , copied to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call us at +501-223-4443. Some browsers do not properly load Google Drive documents, so if you have challenges accessing the PowerPoint slides or the full special publication, try switching to another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
Report written by Senior Fisheries Officer, Elizabeth Mohammed, with additional information from:
Director of Fisheries (Ag) – Nerissa Lucky; Fisheries Officers – Lara Ferreira, Louanna Martin,
Shandira Ankiah, Harnarine Lalla, Nadia Ramphal, Shane Durgah, Recardo Mieux, Allys Forte, Marc Bejai;
Senior Fisheries Researcher – Judy-Ann Bennett of the Fisheries Division;
and Fisheries Services Officer – Jenise Kirk of the Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries
Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) is located northeast of Venezuela between 10° and 11° N and 60° 30’ and 62° W. The country is separated from Venezuela by the 7 to 20 mile wide Gulf of Paria. The overall land area is 5,128km2 with 704 km of coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone area of 77,502km2, making the ocean space some fifteen times the land space. According to the World Bank, agriculture, forestry and fishing contributed 0.96% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021, representing a decline from 1.17% the previous year. The fisheries sector contributes about 14% of agricultural GDP and 0.1% of the national GDP, the contribution to GDP being dominated by the oil and gas sector. Nevertheless, fisheries is an important contributor to food security, employment, and domestic and foreign trade, and it supports and enhances the social, economic and cultural stability of its numerous fishing communities. Annual landings in the marine capture fisheries are estimated at about 13,084 metric tonnes, with the ex-vessel value of the commercial landings from Trinidad (70% total landings) being in the vicinity of TT$242.8 million. TTO is a net importer of fish and fish products (chilled, frozen, processed or live); in 2022 the value of exports was estimated at TT$90.7 million and the corresponding value of imports was estimated at TT$366.6 million. There are at least 25 companies in Trinidad engaged in the import and export of fish and fish products. Overall, the fishing subsector comprises about 2,892 fishing vessels and about 6,001 fishers. In 2012, through surveys at fish landing sites, over 800 land-based workers were identified as being directly involved in the fishing sector in Trinidad, performing a range of roles: vendors, wholesale truckers, hustlers at fish landing sites, fishing boat and net builders/repairers, electricians, mechanics, welders and others involved in refrigeration. While in general most fishers and vessel owners are male (based on a 2015 vessel census it was estimated that 90% of the artisanal vessel owners in Trinidad were male), there is an undetermined number of females assuming both roles. Females tend to dominate in the respective processing activities. Annual aquaculture production of food fish is approximately 17 tonnes (valued at approximately TT$255,000).
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HOW TO CITE: Mohammed, E., N. Lucky, L. Ferreira, L. Martin, S. Ankiah, H. Lalla, N. Ramphal, S. Durgah, R. Mieux, A. Forte, M. Bejai, J-A. Bennett , and J. Kirk, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Trinidad and Tobago. Contribution 10.16, p 174-228 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume II: National Reports on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Papers presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=970
Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:
Proceedings of the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference
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Suriname's marine ecosystems, nestled within the Amazon-Guianas ecoregion, are impacted by the North Brazil Current and the Guianas Current, resulting in low-salinity, nutrient-rich waters. The marine biodiversity, including estuaries, mudflats, sandy beaches, and mangrove forests, are profoundly influenced by the Amazon River plume. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Suriname features a wide continental shelf, transitioning from turbid brown waters near the coast to nutrient-poor blue oceanic waters further offshore. Such zoning affects marine life distribution, from estuarine catfishes to offshore pelagic species.
The fisheries landscape of Suriname is diverse, with inshore activities characterized by small wooden boats using an assortment of nets. The coastal fisheries, distinguished by a transition from brown to green waters, utilize gillnets that drift with tidal movements. Offshore, fisheries is predominantly (semi-) industrial, focused on demersal fishes, shrimps, and large pelagic species.
Suriname's fisheries are economically pivotal. In 2022, the sector harvested 30,847 tons of fish and 2,117 tons of shrimp, contributing to 2.3% of the nation's GDP. A significant fraction of Suriname's working population, specifically 3,950 fishers and 2,193 ancillary workers, relies on this industry. Consequently, the stability of the fishing industry holds paramount importance for the nation's socioeconomic fabric.
HOW TO CITE: Fisheries Directorate, Suriname, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Suriname. Contribution 10.15, p 166-173 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume II: National Reports on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Papers presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=969
Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:
Proceedings of the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference
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The domestic fishing industry of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has traditionally participated in small-scale and artisanal fishing, using traditional fish gear, methods, and vessels. Records indicate that there are approximately one thousand and thirty (1030) registered vessels and twenty-five hundred (2500) people employed within the sector in SVG. SVG has a large shelf inshore fishing area (2,000km2), a large EEZ (36,300km2), and a larger fisheries production potential than neighbouring island states. Most of its main fishery resources are shared with neighbouring Eastern Caribbean countries, and relatively little is known of their production potential. SVG’s main fisheries are: small coastal pelagic species, accounting for up to 50% of all SVG catch in weight; large pelagic species (regional and open ocean); demersal species including reef species caught to the south of St. Vincent and in the Grenadines; and deep slope species.
The industry contributes approximately 1 - 1.5% of the Gross Domestic Product of SVG with a per capita consumption of approximately 23 lbs of fish across an estimated population of one hundred and nine thousand (109,000) people. Fish landings are estimated at 2.9 million lbs with a corresponding value of EC$ 19.2 million. Fish imports average approximately 1.09 million lbs at a value of EC$ 6.4 million, while fish exports average 1.1 million lbs valued at EC$ 13.1 million (these figures represent the average data 2018 - 2022). Accordingly, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a net importer of fish and fish products.
HOW TO CITE: Fisheries Division, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Contribution 10.14, p 156-165 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume II: National Reports on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Papers presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=968
Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:
Proceedings of the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference
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If you have challenges accessing or downloading documents in this series, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , copied to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call us at +501-223-4443. Some browsers do not properly load Google Drive documents, so if you have challenges accessing the PowerPoint slides or the full special publication, try switching to another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.