Revitalizing SIDS Economies & Food and Nutrition Security through the Sustainable Use of our Living Marine Resources and Accelerating the Decarbonization of Fisheries in the Caribbean: from science-based targets to climate mitigation finance, were two key topics of discussion in CRFM-led side events at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), held under the theme: Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity in May 2024, in Antigua and Barbuda. The topics are even more relevant today with at least 6 CRFM Member States (Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago) suffering the adverse impacts of Hurricane Beryl, a devastating major hurricane which struck the Caribbean at the start of July. In this newsletter, we are highlighting the important information shared during the UN SIDS4 Conference, at the CRFM-Government of Antigua and Barbuda side events, convened by the CRFM Secretariat and hosted by the CRFM and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, with support from the CARICOM Secretariat, the National Fisheries Authority of Jamaica, and Green Initiative. For a more comprehensive summary, you can access the documentation with the Key Recommendations and Messages here.

Feature Story

Resilient prosperity in the region’s small-scale fisheries is vital to securing the livelihoods of fishers who depend on this sector.  (Photo courtesy: Communication Unit – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour (MAFFRTIL), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Charting a Course Towards Sustainable and Resilient Prosperity in Fisheries and Aquaculture

Hurricane Beryl’s impacts on Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, and Barbados underscore the need for urgent attention to retooling and protecting this vital sector

Hurricane Beryl—which broke record as the earliest major hurricane on record to form in the Atlantic—woke the region up to a stark reality: In the current environment created by acelerated climate change, strong hurricanes can rapidly form very early in the season, displacing entire communities and devastating the livelihoods of thousands in the blink of a hurricane’s eye. Beryl struck the Caribbean islands of Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,   Jamaica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and  Trinidad and Tobago, over a span of a few days at the start of July, and the fisheries and aquaculture sector was not spared from its furious winds, torrential rains, and erratic storm surges.

This catastrophe unfolded about a month after people from across the world converged on the Caribbean island of Antigua and Barbuda for the 4^th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), under the theme: Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity. On the sidelines of this event, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) convened two seminars on key topics which are most relevant to the present realities confronting the fisheries and aquaculture sector, looking holistically on how we can chart a progressive way forward for the sector and our countries. This dialogue is even more relevant today.

The seminars were convened by the CRFM Secretariat and co-hosted by the CRFM and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, with support from the CARICOM Secretariat, the National Fisheries Authority of Jamaica, and Green Initiative. They discussed: (1) Revitalizing SIDS Economies & Food and Nutrition Security through the Sustainable Use of our Living Marine Resources; and (2) Accelerating the Decarbonization of Fisheries in the Caribbean – from science-based targets to climate mitigation finance.

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Side Events Highlights

Welcome Remarks for the seminars were delivered by Hon. Samal Duggins, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

“The development of our mariculture industry offers a viable solution to improve the sustainability of our fisheries. By cultivating marine organisms in their natural habitats, we can boost local fish production, reduce import dependence, and provide fresh, nutritious seafood, as well as sustainable livelihoods for our coastal communities.”– Hon. Samal Duggins, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, Saint Kitts and Nevis

“There is no reason why we cannot be self-sufficient in seafood (and fish) production through aquaculture and through utilizing and diversifying our marine fisheries.”–  Milton Haughton, Executive Director, CRFM Secretariat

The CRFM Executive Director set the stage with providing the regional context for both seminars. Ms. Adele Ramos, CRFM Communications Officer, chaired the session and introduced the speakers and panelists below.

Presentations

• The Road to Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture: the CRFM’s 2030 Vision for Caribbean SIDS: Mr. Milton Haughton, Executive Director, Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Secretariat
• Leveraging Collaboration and Innovation to Drive the Sustainable Use of the Caribbean Living Marine Resources:Ambassador H.E. Daven Joseph, Office of the Prime Minister, Antigua and Barbuda
• Caribbean Fisheries Authorities as Change Agents in Achieving Food and Nutrition Security through Sustainable Use of Marine Living Resources – The Jamaica Experience: Dr. Gavin Bellamy, Chief Executive Officer, National Fisheries Authority, Jamaica
• Opportunities and Challenges in Achieving Sustainable Use of the Living Marine Resources for Food Security and Economic Development of Pacific SIDS: Representative from the Pacific Region – Dr. Salome Taufa, Resource Economist and Team Leader Fisheries at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
• Towards CARICOM’s Resilient Prosperity: Marine Biodiversity and Environmental Health as a foundation for Accelerating Blue Growth through the Sustainable Use of Living Marine Resources: Mr. Kareem Sabir, Senior Project Officer – Sustainable Development, CARICOM Secretariat
• Moderated Discussion: Opportunities and Challenges for Revitalizing SIDS Economies & Food and Nutrition Security through Sustainable Use of Marine Resources: Moderated by Dr. Maren Headley, Programme Manager – Fisheries Management and Development, CRFM Secretariat

Top photo, front row – left to right: Hilroy Simon, Sr. Fisheries Officer, Antigua and Barbuda; Nakita Poon Kong – Programme Manager, Caribbean Fauna & Flora International; and Patrick Debels, Regional Project Manager, ProCaribe+; bottom photo (second from left) Professor Teng Xin, Head of the Chinese delegation from the National Ocean Technology Centre, and Head of the Secretariat of the Marine Spatial Planning Academy supported by the China Oceanic Development Foundation; followed by Milton Haughton, CRFM Executive Director; and Dean Jonas, former Minister responsible for fisheries, aquaculture, and the blue economy. Dr. Nicholas Watts, Chair and Coordinator of the Independent Forum of Commonwealth Organisations, and Head of the Environmental Working Group of the Caribbean Studies Association, also attended the second CRFM Side Event.

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“The conundrum we find ourselves in, is that if SIDS have to foot much of the bill to adapt to and mitigate against climate change, they worsen the ocean of debt they are wallowing in now, and which may, in fact, sink SIDS before rising sea levels–another problem they did not cause.”

— Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary-General, Environment & Climate Action, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS)

Welcome Remarks for this event were also delivered by Hon. Samal Duggins, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Mr. Ian Horsford, Chief Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Division – Antigua and Barbuda, chaired the session and introduced the speakers and panelists.

Presentations

• Charting a Prosperous Course Towards a Climate Resilient Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in CRFM Member States: Mr. Milton Haughton, Executive Director, Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Secretariat
• Internalizing International Best Practices on Decarbonization in Fisheries: The Case of Belize: Mr. Frédéric Perron-Welch, Head of Climate and Nature Policy, Green Initiative
• Leveraging Regional and International Partnerships for Attaining Science-based Climate Targets in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of Caribbean SIDS: Mr. Keith E. Nichols, Head, Special Projects, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
• Financing and Aid for Internalizing Climate Resilience Best Practices in Fisheries and Aquaculture in SIDS: Ms. Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary-General, Environment & Climate Action, Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
• Moderated Discussion: Perspectives on Decarbonization & Climate Financing for Fisheries & Aquaculture in the Caribbean:Moderated by Adele Ramos, Communications Officer, CRFM Secretariat

A full playlist of the sessions and individual presentations is available online. Watch the recordings here. Access the PowerPoint presentations here.

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