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
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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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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