Promoting a Fishery-Centered Blue Economy Through Co-Benefits and Knowledge Sharing

Nariaki Mikuni^*1, Saori Imamura^*2, Rita Straughn Mitchel^*3 and Hiroaki Terashima^*2

JICA project for Forming Good Practices of Islands-type Blue Economy in Palau,
Former project member of CARIFICO^*1
P.O. Box 359 Koror, Palau 96940
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IC Net Limited. Member for the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use
and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries (COASTFISH)^*2

LA Tower 27 F., 11-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, 3306027, Japan.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Department of Fisheries, Saint Lucia^*3
Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

The Caribbean region is currently witnessing a diverse range of projects aimed at promoting the blue economy. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is formulating a strategy that recognizes co-benefits and knowledge sharing as fundamental drivers for advancing the blue economy. This strategy encompasses several stages: viz. 1. Development of concrete examples through pilot activities; 2. Extraction of knowledge from these examples (including good practices and lessons learned) and accumulation in a comprehensive database or toolbox; 3. Implementation of seminars and workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing and the formation of a multilateral cooperation framework or platform involving governments, donors, international organizations, and public-private-academic sectors; and 4. Development of an international strategy or initiative to promote the blue economy and the establishment of a positive cycle that enhances the priority of pilot activities in national development plans, increases budget allocation and donor funding, and implements additional pilot activities based on the initiative. These components draw upon Japan's extensive experience in co-benefits, such as fisheries resource co-management, food value chains, and the concept of satoumi, which seeks to enhance production and biodiversity through harmonious human-nature interaction. Furthermore, the strategy incorporates effective mechanisms for knowledge sharing, including the utilization of an online knowledge database or toolbox specifically focused on small-scale coastal fisheries, as well as national public presentation events featuring representatives from successful fishermen groups. In this context, JICA has been actively implementing pilot projects in the Caribbean, including the co-management of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), the integration of food value chains with tourism sector through processing seafood products and diver-driven lionfish eradication as well as the satoumi approach through utilizing seaweed cultivation. In future, collaborative efforts with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), governments, and donors, including JICA, are expected to facilitate knowledge sharing, formulation, and accumulation of further examples, effectively promoting the blue economy.

HOW TO CITE: Mikuni, N., S. Imamura, R. Straughn Mitchel and H. Terashima, 2026. Promoting a Fishery-Centered Blue Economy Through Co-Benefits and Knowledge Sharing. Contribution 9.1, p606-617 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=952

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Utilization of Artificial Reefs for Enhancement of Spiny Lobster Resource

Hiroaki Terashima^*1, Monique Calderon^*2 and Makeba Felix^*2

IC Net Limited. Member for the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries (COASTFISH)^*1
LA Tower 27 F., 11-2 Shintoshin, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, 3306027, Japan.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Department of Fisheries, Saint Lucia^*2
Pointe Seraphine Castries Saint Lucia
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus found in the western Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico is a highly valued commercially important species, which is considered a delicacy in the world. In order to manage and conserve the resource of this species, many countries in the region have legislated for fishing restrictions, including minimum size limits, closed seasons, and fishing quotas. However, in several countries, the resources have still faced significant declines owing to overfishing by poaching, habitat destruction and climate change. In order to improve this situation, Japanese aid agencies have implemented an artificial reef project as demonstration tests for development of the nursery ground to enhance the spiny lobster stock. The Overseas Fisheries Consultants Association (OFCA) implemented a model project at St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 2003 to 2005 with the aim of increasing the Caribbean Spiny Lobster stocks, providing technical guidance and lectures to the Fisheries Division through the installation and monitoring surveys of artificial reefs. Subsequent intermittent monitoring observed a large number of spiny lobsters aggregating on artificial reef designed to attract the spiny lobster. In 2020, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) then launched the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries - COASTFISH Project. One of the pilot activities is to deploy an artificial seaweed and an artificial reef combined for development of the nursery habitat for juvenile spiny lobster, and already juvenile spiny lobsters were found on the artificial reef. In this pilot project, local fisherfolks, MPA rangers and officers of the Fisheries Department worked together to develop and monitor the artificial reefs that are inexpensive and easy to install. Such efforts are being made with reference to the "satoumi activities" that are being carried out in coastal areas of Japan.

HOW TO CITE: Terashima, H., M. Calderon and M. Felix, 2026. Utilization of Artificial Reefs for Enhancement of Spiny Lobster Resource. Contribution 6.9, p467-480 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=939