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BELIZE CITY, BELIZE, Friday, 8 December 2017 (CRFM)—The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and its partners at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently held a wrap-up meeting in St. Lucia at which the outcomes of the novel Caribbean Fisheries Co-Management Project (CARIFICO) were unveiled. The most important benefits underscored are better catches and improved incomes for fishers who began using Fish Aggregating Devices or FADs. These were designed, constructed, deployed and managed in a cooperative manner by the fishers themselves in collaboration with government officials and with support from the Japanese experts.

 

Fishers from the pilot countries attended the meeting in St. Lucia and shared how the project has positively impacted them. Fisheries officials from the CARICOM countries, except for Bahamas and Belize, also attended. International partners from JICA, fisheries experts deployed in the region and officials from JICA headquarters in Japan, as well as representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisation, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and the University of Florida were also present.

 

CRFM-JICA group photo

 

CRFM Executive Director Milton Haughton said that he is impressed with the progress made in introducing co-management approaches in specific fisheries, as well as the level of investment of fishers in the process. Fishers have formed new fisherfolk organizations which are actively participating in the development and management of the target fisheries as a result of the CARIFICO project. Through the project, Governments in the 6 pilot countries are sharing more authority and responsibility for fisheries development and management with stakeholders by improving relations and communications, and promoting increased participation by them in decision-making in fisheries.

 

“They have seen significant social and economic benefits from working together and operating around the FADs. The fishers have been involved in the construction and deployment of the fishing gear, as well as developing rules to regulate activities around the FADs and collecting and fisheries data. This is a tangible example of what fishers can achieve by collaborating with each other and with the government,” Haughton said.

 

The Project Manager of the pilot project in Grenada, Mr. Toby Francis Calliste, said that they have learned a lot from the CARIFICO project. He noted that the fishing communities of Grenada have realized tremendous benefits through the co-management arrangement. The CARIFICO project has transformed the fishing industry in Grenville and by extension in Grenada, said Calliste, who presented on the impacts of the project in Grenada.

 

Dominican representatives said that fishers in that country embrace the important benefits of the FAD program. They add that the Roseau Complex fishers now exercise greater compliance with FAD management practices. They hope that with the sustained deployment of public FADs, user conflict will be reduced.

 

The CARIFICO-CRFM Joint Statement on Fisheries Co-Management, which is to be tabled at the April 2018 meeting of Fisheries Ministers from CRFM Member States, envisions the way forward. It addresses four areas: Support for Implementation of Co-management; Training in Support of Co-management; Co-management to Address Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management; and Public Education and Awareness.

 

The statement is intended to solidify the support of CRFM Member States for the implementation of the recommendations of the CARIFICO Project and the advancement of co-management, as well as improved fisheries governance in the Caribbean. This should include legal and institutional reforms, training and capacity development, public education and awareness building, and empowerment of fishers’ organizations and fishing communities.

 

Published in Press release

 

The Fisherfolk of Bottle and Glass village in Barrouallie, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will soon be able to catch more fish, faster than before and using less gas. This will be made possible by the placing of ‘shelters’ called Fish Aggregating Devices or FADs in the ocean. Fish are attracted to these floating structures or FADs and as they gather around them, the fishermen would find it easier to catch them. Fish that can be caught around FADs include mahi mahi, wahoo, marlin, swordfish, skipjacks, dolphin and tuna.

The FADs are being developed and placed by the Caribbean Fisheries Comanagement (CARIFICO) Project which is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in partnership with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the Fisheries Division in the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Transformation, Forestry, Fisheries and Industry.

On Thursday, 3rd April 2014, a Fishers Consultation was held at the Barrouallie Fisheries Centre with a team of stakeholders as well as Japanese experts Mr. Nariaki Mikuni and Mr. Mitsuhiro Ishida. Mr. Travon Ferary, Fisheries Assistant, welcomed the group of about twelve fishermen and introduced Mr. Ishida who made a presentation on the construction of the FAD, materials to be used and methods of deployment, illustrated by colour photographs and diagrams. He emphasized the importance of choosing a good location and depth to place the FAD; where the maximum amount of fish would gather.

The fishermen requested assistance from the Fisheries Division in choosing the best site and arrangements were made for staff to accompany the fishermen out to sea the following day.  Interest in the Project is low at present, but it is hoped that the fishers who were present at the meeting would spread the word about the benefits of using a FAD. In his remarks, Mr. Mikuni appealed to the fishermen to encourage their friends to participate in the Project because the FAD will belong to them and would benefit the entire fishing community, bring more income and a better way of life for the fishers and their families.

In conclusion, the local fishermen were advised to work along with Mr. Shamal Connell, the CARIFICO Liaison Officer for the west coast and in a spirit of unity for the success of the CARIFICO Project in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 

 

Published in Press release

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