CC4FISH National Inception Workshop launch
The Department of Marine Resources in collaboration with the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) hosted a National Inception Workshop on May 30th, 2017 at the Solid Waste Management Conference Room. The workshop and launch of the project ‘Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector (CC4FISH) allowed stakeholders to be aware of the project’s upcoming implementation activities.
Featured remarks from Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources, et. al. introduced the CC4FISH project and stressed the importance of addressing climate change as it threatens the fisheries sector. For the full speech click this link -https://youtu.be/8iqorM5OdLE .
Dr. Iris Monnereau, CC4FISH Regional Coordinator, explained the variables that led to the introduction of the CC4FISH project to the Caribbean region. She explained that a global vulnerability assessment identified that the Caribbean as being one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change variations in the world. She noted that small islands like St. Kitts and Nevis are more susceptible because of the size, remoteness, low availability of resources and economic instability. Some of the concerns that are arising from climate change include ocean acidification and intense storms or hurricanes.
Ms. Nikkita Browne, CC4Fish National Focal Point at the Department of Marine Resources gave an overview of St. Kitts & Nevis fisheries sector. Dr. Barrington Brown, St. Kitts & Nevis Aquaculture Pilot Project and Environmental Research (SNAPPER) Coordinator presented on “Climate Change and its Impact on Aquaculture/Mariculture”, emphasizing the growing demand on our marine resources which requires an innovative approach.
Ms. Orisia Williams, CC4Fish National Project Coordinator, gave a presentation on the activities planned for St. Kitts & Nevis. Ms. Williams listed some current challenges within the fisheries sector of St. Kitts & Nevis. The activities planned for St. Kitts & Nevis are based on investigations and observations from the Department of Marine Resources.
The upcoming activities for the year 2017 include:
- The development of a Sargassum Management Plan
- Basic Fisher Training Course at 7 landing sites in St. Kitts and Nevis
- Food safety and handling fish training
- Mainstreaming of Climate change
Hon. Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources, et. al. introducing the CC4FISH project
Participants at the CC4FISH project launch
Participants at the CC4FISH project launch
