Fisheries and Food Security in the Caribbean
FISHERIES & FOOD SECURITY
The Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)—the highest decision-making organ of the CRFM—approved the PROTOCOL ON AQUATIC FOODS AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY UNDER THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY COMMON FISHERIES POLICY (the Protocol) at its Seventeenth Regular Meeting held on 27 April 2023.
This high-level policy directive was a major development for the Caribbean region, since CARICOM’s “large ocean States” are dependent on fish and other aquatic foods for livelihoods, social welfare, blue economic growth, and food and nutrition security.
Fish and fishery products are known to be high in important nutrients and may lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes while boosting brain health and helping to prevent and treat depression. Furthermore, fish is a cultural mainstay of the Caribbean diet that is very tasty and easy to prepare. Generally speaking, these represent healthier options for dietary protein and other nutritional benefits
| A Firm Policy Directive |
| “Ensure that the people of the Caribbean Community have access to an affordable, adequate supply of safe and nutritious aquatic food…”– CRFM Ministerial Resolution of April 2023 |
The Protocol’s objectives are to:
(a) Recognize fish and other aquatic foods as a strategic resource and support their sustainable development and use for food and nutrition security for the peoples of the Community;
(b) Promote the sustainable harvesting, production, and consumption of aquatic foods as part of a healthy and balanced diet;
(c) Ensure that the people of the Community have access to an affordable, adequate supply of safe and nutritious aquatic foods that meet their dietary requirements and are needed for an active and healthy life; and
(d) Facilitate cooperation to ensure that CARICOM countries become more self-sufficient in aquatic foods and less dependent on imported aquatic foods.
This Protocol seeks to incorporate the relevant aspects of the CARICOM Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy into the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy, and into policies, plans, and other initiatives of the Participating Parties and the Competent Agency, with special attention to gender equality, equity, and human rights-based approaches.
This Protocol aligns with CRFM Strategic Goal #3: Contribute to the provision of sufficient, safe, and nutritious fish and seafood that meets the dietary requirements for an active and healthy life of Member States’ populations.
IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTS
| FISHERIES AND FOOD SECURITY was one of the 10 thematic areas addressed during the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference held in August 2023. Three key items were presented under this thematic area. |
Driving Circular Economy By Transforming Fish Parts From Processing (“Fish Waste”): a Barbadian Case Study for Resource Optimization in the Caribbean Countries
Co-authors: Yvette Diei Ouadi, Omardath Maharaj, and Phil Lashley | Fish by-products constitute between 30–70 percent of fish after being processed into fillets and are usually referred to as “waste”, while the terminology “rest raw materials” would have been more convenient. In Barbados, approximately 5 tonnes of these fish parts are generated daily1, the largest share of which finds its way in the landfills. The direct impact is the environmental burden of the waste, since the rotting parts in landfills produce abundant quantities of methane, a gas with above 20 times more global warming potential than CO2, thus contributing to climate change and occupying useful space in the land scarcity context of SIDS. Unlike in some parts of the world, this waste is a missed opportunity of transforming the rest raw materials into valuable products such as fish wieners, sausage, minced meat, etc. and silage-derived products (feed, fertilizer), in the context of the escalation of world grain prices and feed costs, which further inflates the food import bill and adds pressure on farmers and consumers alike.
Food for Thought: Fisheries and Aquaculture Contributions to Food Security in the Caribbean
Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of the Fisheries Sectors within CARIFORUM Countries for Improved Market Access Under the Economic Partnership Agreement
| Presentations The CRFM has made it easy for you to access the presentations on these topics. You can download the presentations from our site. |
| Access Presentations |
| Videos We’ve also published video proceedings of the conference. You can watch the session recordings via our YouTube Channel. View Videos |
Click Here
FEATURE VIDEO
| MAKING DELICIOUS GARIFUNA HUDUT! |
| This campaign was developed by the CRFM Secretariat, to raise awareness on the vast body of knowledge and information products available to strengthen the region’s food and nutrition security, towards attaining food sovereignty. Our goal is to promote the use of the knowledge and information available for the benefit of all stakeholders and partners. For more information, contact us at [email protected]. |
| CLICK HERE for video |
Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations  2024-03-17 |
| Health benefits of eating fish: |
| CRFM Secretariat |
| Princess Margaret Drive Fisheries Compound P.O. Box 642 Belize City, BELIZE |
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