The CRFM Secretariat is pleased to announce that Mr. Peter A. Murray is the new Regional Project Coordinator of the USD 48 million GEF/CAF/FAO/CRFM Project entitled, “Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus Region" (BE-CLME + Project).

Mr. Murray formerly served as the CRFM's Advisor, Fisheries Management and Development, and he has played an active technical role for several decades on BE-related matters across the Caribbean, in addition to monitoring control and surveillance, illegal unreported and unregulated fishing and the broader spectrum of trans-national crime, gender, and fisheries nutrition, health and sanitary issues. 

He comes highly qualified with 45 years of experience in fisheries as well as a Master of Philosophy degree in Biology and a Diploma in International Environmental Law. He has been senior-most Fisheries Biologist at Saint Lucia’s Department of Fisheries; senior Programme Officer at the OECS Secretariat, and Programme Manager at the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Secretariat. 

Mr. Murray, who succeeds Dr. Dayne Buddo, now has lead responsibility for overseeing BE-CLME+ project activities. As such, he will work towards ensuring alignment with strategic goals, timely delivery of planned activities and fostering collaboration among stakeholders and partners. His extensive experience and knowledge will be very helpful in advancing the objectives of the project, which is focused on marine spatial planning, marine managed areas, seafood value chain development, and ultimately the sustainable use and management of marine living resources, biodiversity conservation, stakeholder engagement and capacity-building throughout the region, and enhancing resilience to climate change and ocean acidification.

The CRFM welcomes Mr. Murray to his new role and wishes him all the best in this new chapter of his professional journey.

Today, as we observe World Oceans Day, we are reminded that the Caribbean Sea and our surrounding oceans are not only a source of natural beauty but also the foundation of livelihoods, culture, food security, and economic opportunity for millions of people across our region. The theme of ocean stewardship has never been more important. For the Caribbean, the future of our oceans is inseparable from the future of our people. Healthy marine ecosystems support fisheries, tourism, transportation, coastal protection, and countless other services that sustain our economies and communities. As we celebrate this day, we must reaffirm our collective commitment to safeguarding our marine resources for present and future generations.

Small-scale fisheries remain the backbone of the fisheries sector in most Caribbean countries. Thousands of fishers, fish vendors, processors, and their families depend directly on the sea for their livelihoods and well-being. These fisheries contribute significantly to local food supplies, employment, poverty reduction, and cultural heritage. As global food systems face mounting pressures from climate change, economic uncertainty, and supply chain disruptions, investing in sustainable small-scale fisheries is essential to strengthening regional food and nutrition security. We must continue to empower fishing communities through improved management, access to finance, modern technology, capacity building, and policies that recognize their invaluable contributions to national and regional development.

At the same time, the Caribbean has tremendous opportunities to expand sustainable mariculture and aquaculture as part of a diversified Blue Economy. Responsible mariculture can increase domestic seafood production, reduce reliance on imports, create jobs, attract investment, and build resilience to climate-related shocks. Through innovation, science-based planning, and effective marine spatial management, we can unlock new opportunities in marine fish farming, seaweed cultivation, shellfish production, and other ocean-based industries while safeguarding marine biodiversity. The CRFM remains committed to supporting Member States in advancing sustainable Blue Economy initiatives that balance economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion.

However, the promise of our oceans cannot be realized if marine pollution continues to endanger our ecosystems. Plastic waste, abandoned fishing gear, land-based runoff, wastewater discharge, and other pollutants are degrading coastal habitats, damaging coral reefs, threatening marine life, and undermining fisheries productivity. Addressing marine pollution requires action by governments, businesses, communities, and individuals alike. On this World Ocean Day 2026, let us renew our commitment to reducing pollution at its source, strengthening waste management systems, promoting sustainable consumption, and protecting the marine environment on which our prosperity depends. Together, we can build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Caribbean Sea that continues to nourish our people, support our economies, and inspire future generations.

	WHAT IS STAR-FISH AND WHY IT MATTERS
	Fisheries across the Caribbean are highly dependent on fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to rising energy costs and climate risks. STAR-Fish seeks to demonstrate that:
	Renewable energy reduces operational costs Energy-efficient technologies improve productivity Inclusive approaches strengthen long-term resilience

CONTENT AND RESOURCES

Belize City, Belize, 3 June 2026 (CRFM)—The Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), a regional inter-governmental body of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), convened its Twentieth (20^th) Regular Meeting today. The Council, comprised of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Blue Economy Ministers from the Caribbean, deliberated via teleconference on key issues confronting the sector. These include bolstering aquaculture development, improving food security, strengthening resilience to climate and disaster risks through insurance, and notable gains in addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Before delving into these pressing matters, the Council elected Hon. Randy Baltimore, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Antigua and Barbuda, as Chair. Minister Baltimore succeeds Hon. Kyle Hodge, Minister of Economic Development, Industry, Commerce, Lands, Planning, Water, and Natural Resources, Anguilla, who rendered stellar service as Chair of the CRFM Ministerial Council during the previous year.

In accepting the Chairmanship, Antigua and Barbuda reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, promoting sustainable use of marine resources, supporting fisherfolk livelihoods, and advancing innovative solutions to challenges facing the fisheries sector, including climate change, illegal fishing, and marine resource management.

Minister Baltimore said: “The Government of Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to working closely with CRFM Member States and regional partners to further the sustainable development of the Caribbean’s fisheries and blue economy sectors during its tenure as Chair.”

He noted that he had recently been assigned to the portfolio following national elections in the Member State. Supported by the Chair of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, Mr. Ian Horsford, Chief Fisheries Officer, Antigua and Barbuda, the Ministers effectively addressed a range of topics, resulting in the passage of 19 resolutions critical to the advancement of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Minister Baltimore chairing the Council meeting from Antigua and Barbuda (Photo: Government of Antigua and Barbuda)

In addressing the Council at the conclusion of the meeting, CRFM Executive Director, Dr. Marc Williams said: “The Caribbean stands at a pivotal moment when sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, the Blue Economy, climate resilience, and ocean governance must be integrated to secure prosperity for present and future generations. I encourage all Member States to maintain their strong engagement in implementing today's resolutions and to continue supporting the CRFM as a premier regional institution for fisheries and ocean governance.”

The Ministers approved a new 5-year aquaculture action plan, as well as a new biennial work plan and budget for the CRFM, spanning 2026-2027. They also received updates on three regional initiatives through which critical work is being undertaken by the CRFM, in collaboration with its Member States and institutional partners, to strengthen the sector. These are the Canadian-funded Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries (STAR-fish) Project, the IICA/EDF-EU Food Security Project, as well as the GEF/FAO/CAF/CRFM BE-CLME+ Project: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus.

“The Council’s decisions on the CRFM work plan and budget, financial management, staffing, and strategic priorities provide a strong foundation for advancing the CRFM’s goals and delivering tangible benefits to the people who depend on our marine resources,” Dr. Williams said.

The Council is scheduled to meet again later this year, during the 20^th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Jamaica.

###

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 2^nd 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.

###

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 20^th Regular Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council, comprised of Ministers from the CRFM’s Member States.

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 2^nd 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.

Marine aquaculture—also known as mariculture—is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish and shrimp in the ocean or coastal environments using systems like floating cages, sea pens, or coastal ponds. Unlike inland aquaculture, mariculture harnesses the sea’s natural resources to sustainably produce seafood. It offers the potential to reduce reliance on imports, generate employment, and support coastal livelihoods, while also promoting innovation through hatcheries, improved feeds, and integrated multi-trophic systems.

The Caribbean is uniquely positioned for success in this sector, with clean waters, suitable native species, and growing demand for healthy, locally farmed seafood. Yet many CARICOM states still import over half of their fish, highlighting the urgent need to build local capacity. This webinar series will bring together leading experts and practitioners to share the technical and strategic knowledge required to unlock mariculture potential and build resilience across the region.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released four (4) recordings from the Caribbean Mariculture Webinar Series, held during September to October 2025. This series was organized under the CARICOM Sub-Regional Mariculture Project.

The initiative is designed to strengthen national and regional capacity in marine aquaculture, with a focus on practical knowledge transfer that supports food security, economic growth, and sustainable coastal development.

Full Playlist 

 Unlocking Mariculture potential in the Caribbean

Building and Managing Cage Farms: Engineering and Daily Operations for Finfish Grow-Out

From Hatch to Sea: Broodstock, Larval Rearing, and Fingerling Transport for Marine Finfish

Feeding the future: Marine Finfish Nutrition and Local Feed Opportunities

Information and resources courtesy UN FAO.

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat’s new Programme Manager – Climate Change & Blue Economy Development Policy, Planning, and Management, Ms. Sanya Compton, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the CRFM at the Blue Justice Conference 2025, on Tuesday, 2 December, in UN City, Copenhagen.

She addressed two key issues at the heart of the conference theme: “United in Action against Fisheries Crimes.” These are transnational organised crime in the fishing industry, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; as well as the need for strong partnerships to strengthen responsible, sustainable management of our fisheries and other ocean assets.

In her remarks, Ms. Compton flagged four (4) perils of IUU fishing:

1. It undermines the foundation of sustainable fisheries management;
2. It erodes confidence in legal frameworks;
3. It destabilizes regional markets; and
4. It threatens the long-term viability of target species.

She urged stakeholders to strengthen their resolve and partnerships, and reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding the marine resources that provide food security, livelihoods, resilience, and rich cultural value.

She underlined the vital importance of strong strategic partnerships for addressing the challenges of IUU fishing and fisheries-related crimes and to responsibly manage our fisheries, our oceans, and all aspects of our Blue Economy.

Mr. Virun Lutchman, Environmental Crime Lead, Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), Blue Justice Caribbean Hub, presented on data and digital technology in addressing fisheries crime.

Three CRFM Member States offered their country insights. Ms. Wynnona Joseph, Senior Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, presented for the Commonwealth of Dominica; H.E. Noersalim Mike Mohamed Faizel, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, presented via digital recording for Suriname; and H.E. Floyd O’Brian Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, delivered a live digital presentation for Jamaica.

Jamaica also participated in a discussion on regional cooperation. H.E. Green, and Dr. Gavin Bellamy, Chief Executive Officer of the National Fisheries Authority, Jamaica, shared their experiences with hosting and administrating the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub - the first of its kind under the Blue Justice Initiative.

Prior to traveling to Copenhagen, Ms. Compton had attended a Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Results-Based Management (RBM) Training–a three-day event held in Jamaica–with CRFM's Sherron Barker, Regional Project Coordinator of the Global Affairs Canada/CRFM STAR-Fish Project. The training provided insights into GACs RBM concepts and tools, allowing participants to explore RBM methodology and practice to improve project management, decision-making and reporting. The training also addressed the conceptualization of and process for the development of logic models and theory of change.

Ms. Compton was appointed in September 2025 to take up a newly created post within the CRFM Secretariat–Programme Manager – Climate Change & Blue Economy Development Policy, Planning, and Management–in line with the CRFM’s strategic direction for the period 2022-2030.

Some specific elements covered under her portfolio are:

Policy and Programme Development and Implementation: Lead the planning and development of policies, implementation and monitoring of programs and projects addressing climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation, and blue economy development focused on the marine living resources.

Blue Economic Development: Design and implement blue economy programs that enhance sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, and ocean-based livelihoods; identify investment opportunities and partnerships for the blue economy within the Caribbean region; promote gender-inclusive and socially equitable approaches to blue economic development.

Capacity-Building and Stakeholder Engagement: Support institutional and analytical capacity building on policy analysis, formulation, and implementation for sustainable management of fisheries, climate change adaptation, blue economic and aquaculture development.

Ms. Compton–who holds over 15 years of experience in the sector and a Master of Science Degree in Marine Science from Savannah State University in Georgia, USA–has been working with the CRFM Secretariat since May 2023. She started out providing consultancy services to support the portfolio for Fisheries Management and Development. After completing that consultancy, she was hired as Research Graduate, Research and Resource Assessment and retained that role until her recent Programme Manager appointment.

Event photos courtesy Peter A. Murray, CRFM Advisor, Fisheries Management and Development.

Fisheries and aquaculture, including mariculture, supports food security, sustainable livelihoods, trade, employment, and even cross-sectoral growth across the Caribbean economy—both the blue and the green economies which span sectors across terrestrial and coastal marine expanses.

Small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in Member States of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) employ almost 540,000 people, including women and youth, accounting for 6% of the labour force of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), according to data compiled and analysed by Mrs. June Masters, Statistics and Information Analyst at the CRFM Secretariat.

Across the seventeen CRFM Member States, almost 130,000 fishers—approximately 10% of them females—harvested an estimated 150,000 tonnes of seafood valued at US$527 million during 2023, from the marine capture fisheries.

Since 2003, the domestic marine capture fisheries of CRFM Member States had contributed 40% to total sector production, whereas the high seas fisheries (still active only in Belize) added 58%, and aquaculture (including seamoss mariculture) - 2% to the total fish production.

Marine capture fisheries production stood at 335,196 tonnes (in live weight) in 2023, although over the prior 21 years (2003-2024), the annual average was 389,473 tonnes.

From 2023 to 2024, CRFM Member States imported approximately 87,200 tonnes of fish and fish products valued at US$ 348.4 million annually, while the countries exported 47,000 tonnes valued at US$ 231 million.

For the period spanning 2004 to 2022, the annual average value of seafood traded between CARICOM countries was estimated at US$50 million. The fish exports with the highest average values were fish fillets and frozen fish. Exports across the region included live fish, fish dried, salted or in brine, and smoked fish.

Noting an overall decline in marine capture fisheries production and an opportunity to improve growth and employment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector across CARICOM, Ministers responsible for fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy in CRFM Member States took a bold and decisive move to set new goals. The Ministers deliberated and formulated their decisions during the 16^th Special Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)—an institution of CARICOM—convened on September 30, 2025, in Saint Kitts and Nevis, during Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2025.

Leveraging data to improve production and earnings

At its 14^th Special Meeting convened during the 18^th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, held in 2024 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Council had stressed the need for the CRFM to take the lead in transforming the statistics and information into actionable knowledge through focused assessments and analyses of the data. It charged the CRFM Secretariat to develop prescriptive measures geared at optimising Caribbean blue economic growth and sustainable aquaculture (including mariculture), as well as to improve the production metrics and earnings for those working in the sector across CRFM Member States. At its recently held meeting, the Council set a timeline of early 2026 for the CRFM Secretariat to report back on actions taken to deliver upon this mandate.

Strengthening CARICOM’s Labour Force

Via Resolution No. SMC 16 (02) of 2025, passed in September 2025, the Council furthermore requested the development of an action plan for increasing employment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector over the next 5 years, from the current reported level of 6% of the CARICOM labour force.

It recommended that attention be given to value-added products and processing as a means of boosting employment opportunities in the fisheries and aquaculture (including mariculture) sector.

Boosting intraregional trade in CARICOM

Another noteworthy decision passed by the Council is its directive for the CRFM Secretariat to present a special report to the Council for adoption in 2026, on strategies for improving fisheries trade—with a focus on intraregional trade—using the lessons learned from experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CRFM Ministerial Council showed keen interest in reports from the CRFM Secretariat signaling that intra-regional trade yielded notable improvements during the pandemic and post-pandemic period. Intra-regional trade—that is, trade in fisheries and aquaculture products between CARICOM countries—accounts for approximately 15% of CARICOM’s regional trade, according to data available to the CRFM.

For the period spanning 2004 to 2022, the annual average value of seafood traded between CARICOM countries was estimated at US$50 million. The fish exports with the highest average values were fish fillets and frozen fish. Exports across the region included live fish, fish dried, salted or in brine, and smoked fish.