Reflections on a Collaborative Program to Build Capacity in the Caribbean Fisheries Resource Management Sector

Nancy Montes* and Charles Sidman

Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida Gainesville, Florida, USA.

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ABSTRACT

Capacity development, a process by which an organization or institution strives to improve the skills of its professional staff, is often cited as a priority for strengthening fisheries and ocean management in developing regions, including the Caribbean. Needs span the disciplines of social, physical, and environmental sciences and include topics related to aquaculture development; marine spatial planning; data collection and analysis; geo-spatial technologies; and fisheries stock assessment (Montes and Sidman, 2019). These skills may be imparted to staff on-the-job and/or through participation in professional trainings, typically provided through partnerships among governments, regional institutions, and international organizations. Trainings are often of short-duration and provide participants with basic knowledge and exposure to needs-related concepts. Extended learning opportunities that provide cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and incorporate user-defined projects can equip participants with greater expertise and added confidence to apply the knowledge gained, given sufficient support from their organizations or institutions. During the past decade, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has prioritized capacity building, in part, through its support of a training program for fisheries management professionals at the University of Florida, undertaken through a cooperative agreement with Florida Sea Grant (FSG). This program has also benefited from the sponsorship of professional organizations, such as the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). The evolution of this capacity-building program from on-site to virtual learning platforms – made necessary in response to COVID-19 – is evaluated through a survey of former program participants. The paper explores the reach of the training program throughout the Gulf and Caribbean regions; the motivations that drive program participation; the ways in which learned skills are being applied; the personal and professional benefits that have accrued to former participants; and future training opportunities.

HOW TO CITE: Montes, N. and C. Sidman, 2026. Reflections on a Collaborative Program to Build   Capacity in the Caribbean Fisheries Resource Management Sector. Contribution 4.4, p320-329 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=924

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Capacity building in fisheries - CRFM’s Training and Capacity Building Activities: 2003-2023

Pamela A. Gibson, Sandra C. Grant and Peter A. Murray

Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat

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ABSTRACT

In the two decades since the inauguration of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) on 27 March 2003, one of its core strategic objectives has been capacity building and institutional strengthening. As part of its efforts to achieve this strategic objective, the CRFM has been providing training opportunities in several fishery related disciplines through cooperative agreements with various regional and international academic institutions, through both degree programs and shorter-term training courses. Additionally, training and capacity building activities have been conducted as part of specific projects implemented by the CRFM. Over the twenty-year period, upwards of 1,650 training and capacity building opportunities have been made available to Caribbean nationals through formal cooperative arrangements and/or project-specific activities. This paper presents an overview of the cooperative arrangements in place, background information on the annual/biennial training courses, and information on various training/capacity building opportunities provided to the CRFM Member States. The information takes into account the related fishery disciplines offered, disaggregated by gender and beneficiary Member States.

HOW TO CITE: Gibson, P.A., S. C. Grant and P. A. Murray, 2026. CRFM’s Training and Capacity Building Activities: 2003-2023. Contribution 4.1, p279-287 IN CRFM, 2026. Papers  presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. Volume I: Technical Papers. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=921

 POWERPOINT

VIDEO PRESENTATION 

FULL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION

Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:

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Belize City, Friday, 23 September 2016 (CRFM)—Fifteen fisheries personnel, including senior fisheries officers, fisheries officers, analysts and policy officers, traveled to Australia this week to participate in a specialized training course on “Enhancing Fisheries Management Capacity in the Caribbean Region.”

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) partnered in developing the 4-week course, to strengthen the region’s capacity in fisheries law and fisheries management.

More specifically, the training—which is being held at the Innovation Centre at ANCORS, University of Wollongong, ranked among Australia’s top 10 universities—is intended to address the conservation and protection of living marine resources and biodiversity; monitoring and surveillance; as well as measures to curb illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

“This is a great training opportunity for CRFM Member States, and we are grateful for the valued contributions which Australia continues to make to help advance fisheries management and development across the CARICOM region. The CRFM appreciates this sustained support,” said Milton Haughton, CRFM Executive Director.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Australian Government institution which is funding the training, awarded Australian Awards Fellowship to nominees who were selected from 10 CRFM Member States.

It is expected that when the training concludes on October 15, they will partner with relevant stakeholders to help improve frameworks and cooperative agreements at home and across the wider Caribbean, to achieve sustainable fisheries, which would, in turn, mean more dollars for the fishing industry and improved socio-economic conditions in beneficiary states.

This training builds on two previous training workshops, successfully held in Australia in 2012 and 2014. It helps to fulfill a Memorandum of Understanding which the CRFM and ANCORS signed back in 2012.

In an effort to strengthen the capacities of surveillance and control activities in Member States, IICA has collaborated with the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, to offer advanced training on antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance in food production animals and food products of animal origin.

This capacity building action on Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance in Agriculture, is an opportunity for early to mid-career public health professionals to participate in a comprehensive two week training course designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to control and monitor the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance in food production systems, as well as throughout the food chain from the farm to the consumer.

Opportunity exists for 2 qualified persons working on aquaculture/fisheries SPS from the Caribbean ACP States to participate in the training course.

For more information on the course please download the Course profile here and/or contact the CRFM Secretariat, or the Director of Fisheries/Chief Fisheries Officer or Permanent Secretary Responsible for Fisheries in your country for more information.

This training is made possible through funding under the EU Funded SPS Measures Project.