Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in THE BAHAMAS
National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in THE BAHAMAS
INTRODUCTION
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas demography and economy The Commonwealth of The Bahamas is an archipelago of roughly 3,000 small islands and cays with a land area of about 13,935 km2. It has a total continental shelf area of approximately 116,550 km2. The islands and cays are spread over an area of some 230,000 km2 and are located on 16 plateaus separated from each other and from Florida, Cuba and Hispaniola by depths of 350 – 3600 meters. The archipelago comprises 700 islands and 2,400 cays, of which 29 are inhabited (referred to as Family Islands)...
The economic development of The Bahamas is largely driven by its tourism and finance sectors, which contribute respectively 10 and 11% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (BNSI, 2016b). The fisheries sector plays an important role with respect to foreign currency earnings, assisting the country to meet its food security needs, employment and social well-being. Its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranges between 1-2% annually, according to data compiled by the Department of Marine Resources. However, preliminary findings from a study conducted by BNSI estimated that the fisheries sector accounts for 20% of the country’s GDP considering the entire value chain including commercial and recreational fishing, fisheries processing, exports, sports fishing and supply for the local market.
HOW TO CITE: Department of Marine Resources, The Bahamas, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in The Bahamas. Contribution 10.3, p 23-28 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=957
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National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
OVERVIEW
The state of Antigua and Barbuda lies in the Lesser Antilles Island Chain. The islands are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the East and the Caribbean Sea to the west. The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are located between latitude 17° 00' N and 17° 44' N and longitude 61° 39` W and 61° 55' W, with Antigua to the south and Barbuda approximately 42 kilometres to the north. The uninhabited Redonda lies to the southwest at 16 55` N and 062 21` allowing for the territory being established as an Archipelagic State in 1982. With a coastline measuring 153km, the islands cover a total land area of 442 km2 with Antigua accounting for 280 km2, Barbuda 160 km2 and Redonda 2 km2. In contrast to the relatively small landmass, Antigua and Barbuda sits on an extensive insular shelf encompassing the inhabited islands with gentle bathymetric relief down to 30 metres depth. This vast shelf along with the Redonda shelf and various offshore shelves, amounting to a total shelf area of 3,568 km2, provides adequate habitat for demersal resources targeted by artisanal fishers. The fishing industry is responsible for half of the agricultural sector’s 2% contribution to the National GDP. In 2020, during the global pandemic, the importance of the fishing industry for its role in food security and securing the livelihood of residents was realized. In 2020, the number of licenses issued to local fishers increased by over 200% over the previous year as people displaced from major industries such as tourism and construction made the transition or re-entry into fishing to maintain their livelihood. At the end of 2021 the number of registered Fishers in Antigua and Barbuda inclusive of 7 Aquaculturist, was 2497 of which 131 were females.
HOW TO CITE: Fisheries Division, Antigua and Barbuda, 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Antigua and Barbuda. Contribution 10.2, p 11-22 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=956
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National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in ANGUILLA
National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in ANGUILLA
Remone Johnson
Fisheries Manager Natural Resources Fisheries Unit
FISHERIES SUB-SECTORS AT A GLANCE
Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands, geographically positioned at 18.22° N, 63.07° W. The island land mass measures 35 square miles, 16 miles long and 3 miles wide and has a geological make up of predominantly coral and limestone. The highest elevation on the island rises to 213ft, while the rest of the island and its surrounding cays remain relatively flat. The main economic driver on the island is tourism, but fishing as a small industry also generates direct revenue for ~ 400 of the 14,000 residents of Anguilla and contributes roughly 1.2% towards the GDP. Anguilla’s exclusive fishing zone (EEZ) is 85,500km2, and 2,000km2 is submerged shelf. This submerged shelf supports the islands’ fishery and provides an abundance of shellfish products landed locally. The EEZ goes 200nm north into the Atlantic; with this abundance of fishing area, the local fishers only exploit up 35-40 miles.
The fishing industry of Anguilla is still very much un-developed, in the sense that there is no large-scale or commercial fishing industries and the technology, boats and equipment used are mundane. The 2022 record of licensed fishers shows that there are ~96 commercial vessels and ~240 fishers operating in Anguilla’s fishery. Besides one large trawler (16m), most of the fishers operate from locally constructed 5-15m, outboard-powered open hull vessels. The fishing methods employed include: purse seines, line fishing, Antillean or Z fish and lobster traps, speargun, longlines, trolling rods and FADs rods, to capture target species such as jacks, hinds, butter fish, doctor fish, parrot fish, shark etc. The latter methods are used to capture important commercial species such as snappers, tunas, wahoo, mahi mahi, lobster and crayfish. The Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) is also an important commercial species, which is harvested by skin diving or SCUBA.
HOW TO CITE: Johnson, R., 2026. National Report on the Status of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Anguilla. Contribution 10.1, p1-10 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=955
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Laying the Foundation for Blue Economic Growth in the Caribbean: The BE-CLME+ Project
Laying the Foundation for Blue Economic Growth in the Caribbean: The BE-CLME+ Project
Milton Haughton and Maren Headley
CRFM Secretariat, Princess Margaret Dr., PO Box 642, Belize City, Belize
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ABSTRACT
The marine environment and its highly complex ecosystems and biological diversity are valuable national and regional environmental and economic assets which have been providing the people of the Caribbean with countless benefits in the form of food, employment, trade, culture, recreation and tourism, and social and economic stability of many coastal communities. If these assets are used and managed well, they can make significantly enhanced and sustained contributions to sustainable blue economic development of the region. This paper introduces a recent regional project funded by the GEF, entitled, Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (or the BE-CLME+ Project). The aim of this project is to strengthen the foundation for blue economic growth and development in the region based on the marine living resources, which are valuable economic assets. This is to be achieved through enhanced and expanded investments in marine spatial planning and marine protected areas, the ecosystem approach to fisheries, and sustainable seafood value chain development.
HOW TO CITE: Haughton M. and M. Headley, 2026. Laying the Foundation for Blue Economic Growth in the Caribbean: the BE-CLME+ Project. Contribution 9.3, p626 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=954
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Building the Capacity of Aquaculture and the Blue Economy in the Caribbean
Building the Capacity of Aquaculture and the Blue Economy in the Caribbean
Dr. Juli-Anne Russo
Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub
Via Monte Roncone, Allumiere 00051, Italy
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ABSTRACT
Despite a global increase in aquaculture, the Caribbean remains at 0.05%. Aquaculture is commonly associated with the intensive culture of salmon in developed countries and the culture of tilapia and shrimp in developing countries. The suit of species to be cultured in the region goes beyond these given the diverse ecosystems and may include species such as conch, marine finfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, aquarium species, oysters, mussels, seaweeds and other aquatic plants, to name a few. Many blue foods are rich in bioavailable micronutrients and can be produced more sustainably. For Caribbean countries, aquaculture has the potential to positively address the problems of nutrition and food insecurity, the unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, and socio-economic inequalities. Conventional approaches to promoting aquaculture have largely failed. Most components necessary for aquaculture development in the region remain underdeveloped, including human and technical resources and the general knowledge required to take advantage of its opportunities. For instance, vast coastal areas have hardly been explored for mariculture / blue foods development which can become the cornerstone of coastal communities. Additionally, given the critical state of important marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves due to overexploitation, the potential for aquaculture as an alternate source of fish protein and alternative livelihood activities has yet to be taken seriously. The Caribbean Aquaculture Education and Innovation Hub (CAEIH) seeks to leverage and strengthen this framework through scientific research, with the introduction of aquaculture curriculum in secondary and tertiary institutions, and partnership initiatives to realize regional targets such as the CARICOM commitment to a 25 percent reduction in food imports by 2025 and the global 2030 agenda. In this way, we intend to identify and monitor key performance indicators at all levels of human and technical capacity in aquaculture production including the participation of women and youth.
HOW TO CITE: Russo, J-A., 2026. Building the Capacity of Aquaculture and the Blue Economy in the Caribbean. Contribution 9.2, p618-625 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=953
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Promoting a Fishery-Centered Blue Economy Through Co-Benefits and Knowledge Sharing
Promoting a Fishery-Centered Blue Economy Through Co-Benefits and Knowledge Sharing
Nariaki Mikuni*1, Saori Imamura*2, Rita Straughn Mitchel*3 and Hiroaki Terashima*2
JICA project for Forming Good Practices of Islands-type Blue Economy in Palau,
Former project member of CARIFICO*1
P.O. Box 359 Koror, Palau 96940
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IC Net Limited. Member for the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use
and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries (COASTFISH)*2
LA Tower 27 F., 11-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, 3306027, Japan.
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Department of Fisheries, Saint Lucia*3
Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia
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ABSTRACT
The Caribbean region is currently witnessing a diverse range of projects aimed at promoting the blue economy. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is formulating a strategy that recognizes co-benefits and knowledge sharing as fundamental drivers for advancing the blue economy. This strategy encompasses several stages: viz. 1. Development of concrete examples through pilot activities; 2. Extraction of knowledge from these examples (including good practices and lessons learned) and accumulation in a comprehensive database or toolbox; 3. Implementation of seminars and workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing and the formation of a multilateral cooperation framework or platform involving governments, donors, international organizations, and public-private-academic sectors; and 4. Development of an international strategy or initiative to promote the blue economy and the establishment of a positive cycle that enhances the priority of pilot activities in national development plans, increases budget allocation and donor funding, and implements additional pilot activities based on the initiative. These components draw upon Japan's extensive experience in co-benefits, such as fisheries resource co-management, food value chains, and the concept of satoumi, which seeks to enhance production and biodiversity through harmonious human-nature interaction. Furthermore, the strategy incorporates effective mechanisms for knowledge sharing, including the utilization of an online knowledge database or toolbox specifically focused on small-scale coastal fisheries, as well as national public presentation events featuring representatives from successful fishermen groups. In this context, JICA has been actively implementing pilot projects in the Caribbean, including the co-management of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), the integration of food value chains with tourism sector through processing seafood products and diver-driven lionfish eradication as well as the satoumi approach through utilizing seaweed cultivation. In future, collaborative efforts with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), governments, and donors, including JICA, are expected to facilitate knowledge sharing, formulation, and accumulation of further examples, effectively promoting the blue economy.
HOW TO CITE: Mikuni, N., S. Imamura, R. Straughn Mitchel and H. Terashima, 2026. Promoting a Fishery-Centered Blue Economy Through Co-Benefits and Knowledge Sharing. Contribution 9.1, p606-617 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=952
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A Modernised and Results-Based ICT Framework to Strengthen Institutional Governance, Administration, Productivity, Outreach, Visibility, and Engagement
A Modernised and Results-Based ICT Framework to Strengthen Institutional Governance, Administration, Productivity, Outreach, Visibility, and Engagement
Adele O. Ramos
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat
Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City, Belize
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ABSTRACT
Since its inauguration in 2003, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has placed high priority on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for effective institutional governance and stakeholder engagement. During the initial period (from its official establishment by CARICOM Heads of Government in 2002 to 2012), the CRFM’s focus—notwithstanding the limitations of the technologies that then existed—was on information dissemination and data services to support the programs of the CRFM and to enhance its impacts on the fisheries and aquaculture sector, with a focus on the fishing industry and fisherfolk organizations in Members States. The strategic growth in the CRFM’s ICT framework reached its pinnacle during the 2013-2021 period, with direct benefits redounding to those CRFM Member States which also benefited from capacity strengthening in ICT through the CRFM’s alliances with institutional partners. It was during this period that the CRFM finalized its Communications and ICT strategies to address the needs of the Secretariat, Member States and other stakeholders; deployed a new website and the CRFM Data Portal; as well as mainstreamed the use of teleconferencing for electronic meetings and virtual stakeholder engagements, resulting in significant cost savings and enhanced efficiencies to the organization, while ensuring its continued effectiveness even during the mobility restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rising influence of social media platforms during this era also provided further impetus for the CRFM to disseminate information through different channels. This monumental shift in the CRFM’s ICT landscape positioned the organization closer to fulfilling its core functional objective of ‘Effective collaboration with member states and stakeholders.’ This third period (2022-2030) focuses on addressing key constraints and harnessing opportunities through a results-based approach to ICT and the further modernization of the CRFM’s ICT framework to serve its growing regional and international audiences.
HOW TO CITE: Ramos, A.O., 2026. A Modernized and Results-Based ICT Framework to Strengthen Institutional Governance, Administration, Productivity, Outreach, Visibility, and Engagement. Contribution 8.7, p588-605 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=951
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The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Potential for Regional Ocean Science Coordination and Partnership
The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Potential for Regional Ocean Science Coordination and Partnership
Lorna V Inniss, Ph.D, Alex E Palomino and Cesar Toro, Ph.D,
Marck Oduber, Ph.D, and Soraya Silva, Ph.D
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ABSTRACT
The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (the Ocean Decade) has the vision of “the science we need for the ocean we want.” The preparatory work completed within the first three years of the Ocean Decade emphasized the co-design aspects and successfully created a large Community of Practice in the Tropical Americas and Caribbean Region (TAC) for implementation. The Ocean Decade provides a framework for diverse actors to identify, generate and use ocean science for sustainable development, aimed to catalyze existing and new partnerships to address specific needs of citizens, industry and communities to optimise the benefits of the ocean to humans. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO leads the implementation of Decade Actions that respond to 10 Challenges in ocean health and wellbeing. The seven (7) outcomes to be achieved by 2030 through collaborative science are: A Clean Ocean, A Safe Ocean, A Predicted Ocean, A Healthy and Resilient Ocean, A Productive Ocean, An Accessible Ocean and An Inspiring and Engaging Ocean. The Tropical Americas and Caribbean (TAC) Region is already working on improving ocean governance through the establishment of an Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) among relevant intergovernmental bodies. This new paradigm envisions Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP), young people, community representatives, industry and civil society participating in the governance, management and conservation of marine resources, an investment that brings measurable returns to all sectors, while minimising the impact of humans on the ocean and ensuring sustainability. The proposed TAC Ocean Decade Task Force will work with partners to unpack ocean science needs for all-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk reduction, as well as ecosystem health, alternative livelihoods and wider societal gains, and increasing wealth, especially within small island developing states (SIDS). Thus, a successful Ocean Decade in 2030 establishes a foundation of credible and relevant science that supports the Sustainable Blue Economy, ecosystem restoration, pollution reduction, fisheries conservation, and responds to the needs of states to implement global and regional treaties on the ocean.
HOW TO CITE: Inniss, L.V., A. E. Palomino and C. Toro, M. Oduber, and S. Silva, 2026. The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Potential for Regional Ocean Science Coordination and Partnership. Contribution 8.6, p576-587 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=950
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Transforming Our Seas and Oceans Resources Collaboratively with Accredited Development Partners for the Benefit of all 13 years of progress: 2010 – 2023
Transforming Our Seas and Oceans Resources Collaboratively with Accredited Development Partners for the Benefit of all 13 years of progress: 2010 – 2023
Alwyn R. Ponteen, MSc;
Chief Fisheries and Ocean Governance Officer – Government of Montserrat
ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom Overseas Territory (UKOT) Montserrat, a Small Island Development State (SIDS) within the global ocean space, recognises the significant role that the natural capital of the fisheries and ocean sector plays in its socio-economic growth and achievement of long-term sustainable development and well-being. Through extension from His Majesty’s Government (HMG) UK, the Government of Montserrat (GOM) is committed to its International Binding and Non-Binding Agreements.
For decades, the complexities of ineffective legal instruments, inadequate human capital, natural occurrences, human induced circumstances, coupled with climate change, alien invasive species and pollution continue to create adverse social and environmental issues. It was therefore critical to empower policy and decision makers to develop and implement an adaptive, holistic and harmonized natural capital framework for making effective use of the resources in a way that embeds sustainability and facilitates decision-making processes.
In 2010, the GOM took the bold step of embarking on an ambitious but realistic and adaptive programme aimed at transforming our seas and ocean resources collaboratively with accredited development partners with a shared vision. This was achieved by applying nature-based solutions, good governance, adaptive management, technological innovation, sound science and evidence-based information to strengthen the global effort in advancing environmental protection and sustainability for the nation’s socio-economic growth and well-being.
To achieve the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, the GOM has imbedded SDG 17, Partnership for the goals and its associated targets, as the nucleus for strengthening the wealth economy framework of natural capital in the long term. As a small island developing state, sustainable financing, capacity building, technology just to name a few have been a real challenge over the years.
HOW TO CITE: Ponteen, A.R., 2026. Transforming Our Seas and Oceans Resources Collaboratively with Accredited Development Partners for the Benefit of all. Contribution 8.5, p563-575 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=949
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Regional Cooperation on Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries Management in the Wider Caribbean Region
Regional Cooperation on Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries Management in the Wider Caribbean Region
Corbin Christopher, UNEP-Cartagena Convention Secretariat; Rossin Lucile, Conruyt Géraldine and Pusineri Claire SPAW-RAC
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ABSTRACT
The Cartagena Convention is the only regionally binding legal agreement for the protection and sustainable development of the Caribbean Sea. Through its pollution and marine biodiversity programmes, the Convention Secretariat and its Regional Activity Centres (RACs) play a critical role in supporting protection of the marine environment and sustainable use of its resources. With the need for more effective regional policy coordination mechanisms for governance of the Caribbean Sea, the cooperation model established between the Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) should be upscaled and replicated. Within the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), several initiatives focus on integrated ocean governance, marine spatial planning, and an ecosystem-based approach to sustainably managing shared living marine resources. Linkages between fisheries management, marine biodiversity conservation and pollution prevention formed an ideal framework for existing cooperation between the Convention Secretariat and CRFM. The RAC for the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol (SPAW) of the Cartagena Convention supports Governments with information, technical expertise and assistance to develop and implement programs and projects for sustainable fisheries. Through a new initiative – CAMAC, SPAW RAC, builds on the relationship with CRFM to support the: 1) assessment of interactions between human activities and marine megafauna, 2) strengthening of regional cooperation, and 3) identification of recommendations for mitigation. Initial findings show that Caribbean fisheries are mainly artisanal, but fishing techniques and pressures vary between territories, some targeting mainly pelagics on FADs, while others still using nets and traps targeting reef and demersal fish. Most identified significant interaction cases involved sea turtles and sharks, only a few cases were identified for marine mammals and none for seabirds. This type of cooperation can guide how future programmes and projects are developed and ensure integration across the multiple agencies working on regional ocean governance.
HOW TO CITE: Corbin, C., L. Rossin, G. Conruyt and C. Pusineri, 2026. Regional Cooperation on Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries Management in the Wider Caribbean Region. Contribution 8.4, p555-562 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical 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=948
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