Belize City, Friday, 8 March 2024 (CRFM)—Several Member States of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), as well as representatives of regional and international observer organizations, including the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), met from Wednesday, 6 March to Friday, 8 March 2024, to deliberate on developments in fisheries and aquaculture. The CRFM convened this 22nd Regular Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum to receive technical inputs from national fisheries authorities across the Caribbean, as well as key stakeholders and partners, in addressing the priorities of the sector.
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. Trinidad and Tobago, which served as chair of the Forum for the past year, handed over the leadership to the Turks and Caicos Islands. After the elections, Kathy Lockhart, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management, Turks and Caicos Islands, assumed the Chair, succeeding Louanna Martin, Acting Director of Fisheries, Fisheries Division, Trinidad and Tobago.
In welcoming attendees to the Forum Meeting, Martin highlighted the value of the CRFM, an intergovernmental institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to Trinidad and Tobago, one of its 17 Member States. She said that the CRFM has been very instrumental in helping to address the myriad issues that confront the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
During the opening session, Milton Haughton, Executive Director at the CRFM Secretariat, noted that the Caribbean Fisheries Forum was meeting against the backdrop of myriad challenges as well as opportunities for harnessing the benefits of blue economic growth.
“Notwithstanding the various global crises—the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East—and the challenging economic situation in many of our countries, we have to continue to work hard to strengthen our economies and to provide new opportunities for growth, especially for the youth, which is very important for our future prosperity,” Haughton said.
He added that this prosperous future lies in utilizing the Caribbean’s aquatic resources and in developing the aquaculture potential—both on land and in the marine environment.
Haughton noted that although the CRFM has made significant strides in working with Caribbean countries over the past 21 years, there is still much more work to be done. He informed the Caribbean Fisheries Forum that the Government of Canada had recently approved CD$4.2 million in funding for the CRFM, for the Sustainable Technologies for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries (STAR-Fish) Project, which aims to advance the clean energy transition in the Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture sectors. He also highlighted the recent commencement of a US$48 million project being part-financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) titled, Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus ("BE-CLME+”), which aims to promote blue economy development through marine spatial planning and marine protected areas, an ecosystem approach to fisheries, and sustainable seafood value chains.
The Executive Director of the CRFM briefed the Forum on ongoing initiatives, such as the Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in CARICOM Countries (COASTFISH) Project, being implemented with funding from the Government of Japan, and the Sargassum Products for Climate Resilience Project, being funded by the Government of New Zealand.
He also updated the Forum on the work being done in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), to commence pilot scale production of a liquid fertilizer from Sargassum, as well as plans to ensure total and safe utilization of the resource by converting the by-products to other sustainable products.
Haughton also updated the Forum on the World Trade Organization (WTO) subsidies negotiations held last week, in Abu Dhabi, and he advised the Forum that the agreement was not finalized because significant differences remained among the countries. He advised the Member States of the critical need to pay keen attention to such international processes and to ensure that the Caribbean’s interests are defended and fully addressed, given the potential implications for the fisheries of Caribbean countries and the region.
The Forum’s deliberations, which are vital for forging the way forward for the sustainable development of the Caribbean’s aquatic resources, precede the upcoming 18th Regular Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council, comprised of Ministers responsible for fisheries from its 17 Caribbean Member States.
—Ends—
The CRFM Secretariat is pleased to share the following final calls for expressions of interest under the "BE-CLME+”: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus Project. Please feel free to share these with anyone who you believe has the desired expertise to effectively execute the consultancies.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The “BE-CLME+”: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus Project seeks to promote blue economy development in the CLME+ through marine spatial planning and strengthening of marine protected areas (MPAs), ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), and sustainable seafood value chains. The CRFM, an inter-governmental CARICOM agency, is the executing agency for the 4-year BE-CLME+ project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which endorsed the Project in November 2022 and provided a US$6.2 million grant for the project.
The participating countries are Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Panama, and Saint Lucia, while the partner organizations are the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), CRFM, the University of the West Indies Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (UWI-CERMES), University of Florida Sea Grant, which has committed co-financing of approximately US$41.7 million. The CRFM is the executing agency, while FAO and CAF are the GEF co-implementing agencies. These partners will support the governments of the participating countries in implementing the project interventions, from which benefits will be spread across the region. The project’s budget includes US$25 million in co-financing from CAF, for lines of credit through national financial institutions to support the development of fisheries value chains.
PROJECT PROFILE
GEF Project ID 10211
GEF Period: GEF - 7
Project Type: Full-size Project
Focal Areas: Biodiversity & International Waters
Funding Source: GEF Trust Fund
Project Timeline
08 Apr 2019:
Project received by GEF
19 Dec 2019:
Concept Approved
11 Nov 2022:
Project Approved for Implementation
27-29 Sept 2023:
Inception Workshop and First Regional Steering Committee Meeting
Financials (USD)
Co-financing Total:
41,657,883
GEF Project Grant:
6,222,018
GEF Agency Fees:
559,982
Project Components
The project’s three (3) components are:
By the end of the project, there will be marine spatial plans developed at both the regional and national levels, as well as blue economy strategies for the participating countries. Furthermore, the project will support the creation and expansion of areas that benefit from effective area-based management, such as marine management areas and marine protected areas, in recognition of the need for access from a range of stakeholders in a manner that reduces the risk of conflicts.
Project Activities
Learn more here.
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Download Inception Report | Download Consultation Report
CAF | CARICOM | CNFO | CRFM | FAO | GEF | OECS Commission | OSPESCA | ProCaribe+ | UWI-CERMES
Barbados Fisheries Division
Coastal Zone Management Unit of Barbados
Belize Ministry of the Blue Economy and Disaster Risk
Belize Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
Belize Fisheries Department
Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute of Belize
Guyana Fisheries Department
Guyana Protected Areas Commission
Guyana Environmental Protection Agency
Jamaica National Fisheries Authority
Ministry of the Environment of Panama
Panama Department of Planning of Coastal and Sea Space
Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama
Saint Lucia Department of Fisheries
Saint Lucia Department of Sustainable Development
ABOUT THE PROJECT
In September 2020, the CRFM entered into a 3-year collaborative agreement with Plant & Food Research, to address Sargassum seaweed influxes in affected Caribbean countries. Plant & Food Research, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute, and the CRFM, an inter-governmental organization which promotes and facilitates the responsible utilization of the Caribbean's fisheries and other aquatic resources, are collaborating to explore the creation of new technologies and value chains from marine biomass, particularly the Sargassum seaweed.
The overall aim of the project is to mitigate the environmental and economic impacts of Sargassum seaweed influxes in affected Caribbean countries through the creation of inclusive value chains for Sargassum seaweed.
VIEW INTERACTIVE VERSION OR DOWNLOAD PROJECT BRIEF
VIEW INTERACTIVE VERSION OR DOWNLOAD PROJECT BROCHURE
PHOTOS
VIDEOS
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Download User Manual & Field Guide | Download Model Sargassum Protocol
The CRFM is seeking a PROJECT COORDINATOR for the CAF/FAO/CRFM/GEF - BE-CLME+ Project: Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus.
DATE:
8 AUGUST 2023
TITLE:
REGIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR
PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
CRFM
DEADLINE:
n/a
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
Click here
STATUS:
Closed
The CRFM is seeking a suitably qualified Belizean to serve as PROJECT ASSISTANT for the Sargassum Products for Climate Resilience Project.
DATE:
30 November 2023
TITLE:
Project Assistant
PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
CRFM
DEADLINE:
Will remain open until filled
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Click here
STATUS:
Closed
The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).
DATE:
6 December 2023
TITLE:
National Consultancy to conduct Data Gap and Needs Assessments to inform Marine Spatial planning (MSP) in Belize
CATEGORY:
Consultancy
PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
CRFM
DEADLINE:
31 January 2024 (extended)
CALL FOR EOI:
Click here
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
Click here
STATUS:
Closed
The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).
DATE:
6 December 2023
TITLE:
National Consultant to conduct Data Gap and Needs Assessments to inform Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Jamaica
CATEGORY:
Consultancy
PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
CRFM
DEADLINE:
31 JANUARY 2024 (extended)
CALL FOR EOI:
Click here
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
Click here
STATUS:
Closed
The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the Promoting National Blue Economy Priorities Through Marine Spatial Planning in the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Plus (BE-CLME+ Project).
DATE:
7 December 2023
TITLE:
National Consultancy to provide Capacity Building for Mainstreaming FAO’s Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines into Value Chains in Caribbean Fisheries
CATEGORY:
Consultancy
PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
CRFM
DEADLINE:
CALL FOR EOI:
Click here
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
Click here
STATUS:
Closed
The CRFM Secretariat is soliciting Calls for Expressions of Interest (EOI).
DATE:
12 December 2023
TITLE:
Consultancy for Internalizing climate action best practices in the fisheries industry, through a carbon footprint assessment, and the preparation of carbon mitigation recommendations for a small-scale fishing enterprise in Belize
CATEGORY:
Consultancy
PROJECT/ORGANIZATION:
CRFM
DEADLINE:
26 January 2024 (extended)
CALL FOR EOI:
Click here
TERMS OF REFERENCE:
Click here
STATUS:
Closed