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St. Kitts and Nevis hosts 17th Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum

Wednesday 20th March 2019, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), an intergovernmental organization established to promote and facilitate the responsible use of the regions fisheries resources, will convene its annual meeting of the heads of from its 17 Member States. This year, that group of the Caribbean technical experts who make up the Caribbean Fisheries Forum will meet for two days in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The CRFM will convene the 17th Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum on Wednesday, 20th and Thursday 21st March 2018 at the Bird Rock Beach Hotel in St. Kitts. International and regional partner organizations, observers and stakeholders from the fisheries and aquaculture sector have also been invited to the event, organized in collaboration with the Department of Marine Resources.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources et al, Mr. Alister Edwards will chair the opening ceremony, remarks by Mr. Milton Haughton CRFM Executive Director then the Honorable Minister Hamilton, Minster of Marine Resources et al, presenting the event’s speech. Ms. Rhosyll Jeffers, Assistant Secretary to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Nevis will deliver closing remarks.   

The Director of St. Kitts and Nevis Department of Marine Resources, Mr. Marc Williams will represent St. Kitts and Nevis and is expected to serve as chairman of the Forum at the meeting. Participants will receive an update on the progress of programmes, projects and activities being undertaken by the CRFM and prepare recommendations to be presented to the CRFM’s Ministerial Council when it meets in May 2019 in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Among the areas listed for discussion by the Forum are management plans for key fisheries, co-management of fisheries involving stakeholders and government officials, cooperation with regional and international partners to improve management and sustainable use of marine resources; adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management in fisheries, and measures to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, among others.

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6th National Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting

On 13th February 2017 representatives of the Japanese Government and the Department of Marine Resources held its sixth and final National Joint Coordinating Committee meeting at the Old Road Fisheries Complex as they concluded the 5 year Caribbean Fisheries Co-management Project here in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Present were Mitsuhiro Ishida and Minoru Tamura from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Wilmot Alleyne, Kharim Saddler, Hazelmay Richards and Ashadi Duncan represented the Department of Marine Resources. Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) Fishers included; Lester Richards, Franklyn Challenger, Winston Hobson, Darwin Francis, Michael Samuel, Roger Ottley, Richard Dorsette and Earl Freeman.

Mr Alleyne gave the welcome remarks with a brief overview of the FAD Fishery over the past several years and the formation of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism. He stated “one of the goals of the CRFM is to ensure sustainability. After endless discussions 3 recommendations were made, one was to have a co-management approach to fisheries which is where we are today which was implemented in May 2013.” There were 6 OECS countries involved in the Caribbean Fisheries Co-management project namely, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica that explored FAD Fishery.

Mr. Saddler introduced Mr. Kareem Wilkin – Department of Fisheries Nevis, who gave an overview of the activities done within the project period and also the equipment and materials received and distributed among the local FAD fishers such as ropes, swivels, buoys, tents and microphones.

Mr. Tamura gave a brief presentation on Guideline for Fishery Co-management “Facilitating Co-Managed Fisheries in the Caribbean: Good Practices and Guidance from the CARIFICO Experience.” He explained the project’s purpose and target levels which were Country level (developing co-management approaches through pilot project), OECS level (Conducting technical exchange and accumulating lessons learned from pilot project) and Regional level (sharing co-management approaches). Guidelines were done by analyzing information from the countries, workshops and training sessions.

Mr. Saddler and members of the St. Kitts Nevis FAD Fisher Association (SKN FFA) had an open discussion about the way forward in FAD fishery. We have seen that there are several levels of co-management we can reevaluate the collaboration between the DMR and fishers. “Now we have to elaborate on what responsibilities the SKN FFA is willing to accept, however it can change as time goes by but this will be our first priority”, said Mr. Saddler.

“The goal of co-management includes the desire to promote fairness, the sustainability of fishery resources and shared governance” said Mr. Tamura. The overall goal is to balance Economic Development and Resource Management. In the fisheries co-management we set 8 activities which were :

  • Fisher Consultations (ongoing)
  • Organization (established)
  • Trainings (ongoing)
  • User Rules (established)
  • Catch Data (collected)
  • User Fee (delayed)
  • Marketing (ongoing)
  • Maintenance (ongoing)
  • Promote attributes of activities listed above (ongoing)
  • Create a Sub-Regional Network (Fishermen exchange in Grenada)
  • Technical Exchange (Workshop in St. Lucia 2017)

 

 

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Informing regional fisheries management with accurate data from a new perspective

The first Regional Workshop on Recreational Fisheries Data and Statistics hosted at the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation Nassau, Bahamas from 22-25 June 2017. More than 30 regional experts from 12 Caribbean countries attended and Ms Nikkita Browne of the Department of Marine Resources  represented St.Kitts and Nevis at this workshop. There was a capacity building focus to increase the collection of recreational fisheries data in the region. Such data can help inform sustainable fisheries management in all fishery sectors at national and regional scales.

This workshop is the 6th meeting of the joint Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Organization for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Central America (OSPESCA), Caribbean Fisheries Management Council of the USA (CFMC) Working Group on Recreational Fisheries.

This workshop was supported by the Caribbean Billfish Project, which is a component of the GEF-funded, World Bank implemented, Ocean Partnership for Sustainable Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation Models for Innovation and Reform (ABNJ) Project, and is being executed by the Secretariat of WECAFC at the Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

 

 

Various organizations have convened in Nassau, Bahamas for the first Regional Workshop on Recreational Fisheries Data and Statistics.

 

 

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1st Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (RWG IUU)

The first meeting of the Regional Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (RWG IUU) was held in Barbados from March 1-2, 2017.

The evolution of the RWG IUU into a tripartite group started at the 15th Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) Western Central Atlantic Fishing Commission (WECAFC) meeting which was determined to include Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and Central America Fisheries and Aquaculture Organisation (OSPECA). The overall aim of the RWG IUU is to enhance the regional governance for sustainable fisheries and is supported by the United Nation Development Programme/ Global Environmental Fund (UNDP/GEF) Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) project and FAO.

The meeting objectives included increasing awareness and understanding of IUU fishing problems and to identify possible solutions, build capacity for more effective collaboration in preventing and deterring IUU fishing, and  discuss the draft document that would indicate how the RWG IUU would operate and function as well as to develop work plans.

Belize and St.Kitts and Nevis were among several territories making presentations on how to address IUU fishing in their waters. The presentation for St.Kitts and Nevis was conducted by Wilmot Alleyne (Fisheries Enforcement Officer). He focused on the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act 2016 (FAMRA) and all the relevant parts which speak to IUU within the Federations’ waters. Mr Alleyne also indicated that he also referred to the National Plan of Action on IUU Fishing during his presentation. “Based on FAMRA all of the international instruments that St.Kitts and Nevis are party to has the force of law” said Mr Alleyne.

Subsequent RWG IUU meetings will occur in May and October of this year to complete objectives as outlined in the work plan.

RWG IUU Group photo

RWG IUU in session

Hon. Saboto Caesar , St. Vincent and the Grenadines Minister responsible for Fisheries giving  the featured address

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ST.KITTS AND NEVIS FISHERFOLK LEADERSHIP CAPACITY BUILDING SESSIONS

 

Fisherfolk leaders from the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis were invited to participate and benefit from capacity building sessions.   St.Kitts based fishers attended sessions held on February 13-14, 2017; similarly Nevis based fishers’ sessions were conducted on February 15-16, 2017. These workshops were facilitated by Mitchell Lay, Coordinator of Caribbean Network Fisherfolk Organization (CNFO). The CNFO works in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat.

The Department of Marine Resources hosted the capacity building trainings. The Director, Marc Williams gave Opening Remarks and members of DMR staff gave presentations that included Local Legislation by Wilmot Alleyne, SKN Marine Management Area by Tricia Greaux and Food Safety in Fisheries by Nikkita Browne.

Objectives for the sessions included the promotion and development of;

  • awareness of the laws, regulations, and policies applicable to the fisheries sector in St. Kitts and Nevis
  • opportunities for fishers to discuss and clarify implications of fisheries management laws on their activities.
  • fishers’ participation in fisheries management, including in MMAs
  • fishers’ contributions to the national social security mechanism
  • food safety in the fisheries sector
  • leadership skills of leading fishers in St. Kitts and Nevis.
  • fisherfolk leaders’ capacity in communications
  • document and experience sharing

The CRFM Secretariat was the lead agency, fulfilling a mandate for fishers from St. Kitts and Nevis to be exposed to knowledge and skills which will promote their development and enhance their collective participation in sustainable fisheries governance.

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis passed new legislation, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act 2016, which will impact the fisheries sector and guide its’ management. This activity will provide fishers with the opportunity to learn of these new measures and to discuss the implications, while identifying opportunities to participate in the governance and management of the sector.

       

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REGIONAL APPROACH TO SAFER EXPORT RULES AND SEA FOOD LAWS

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Regional Validation Workshop was held 14-15 December 2016 in Barbados. Ms Nikkita Browne – Department of Marine Resources represented the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis at this workshop.

The workshop covered the legal and regulatory framework for agricultural health and food safety for the fisheries and aquaculture subsectors, including the development of the Model Fisheries Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Regulations in keeping with international best practice measures.

The Regional Validation Workshop was conducted by the Global Centre for International Law of the UK and was sponsored under the fisheries component of the programme on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, approved under the 10th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in partnership with CARICOM Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM).

 

Representatives of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency, CARICOM Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism.

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FISHERY SECTOR SANITARY CONTROL CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING

St.Kitts and Nevis was represented at the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Food Safety Control and Laboratory Operation capacity building training held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Mr Jermaine Mike – St.Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards attended the training from 28 November – 2 December 2016 which covered Laboratory Testing. Ms Nikkita Browne – Department of Marine Resources attended the Health and Food Safety 5-9 December 2016.

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) training course outlined; functions of the competent authority, traceability measures, training in water quality testing, standards surrounding inspections for the fisheries sector ; landing sites, aquaculture, processing facilities, and small scale and high seas fishing vessels. Manuals will be developed and distributed to countries involved in the training sessions.

Capacity building training activities were conducted by Megapesca Ltd of Portugal and was sponsored under the fisheries component of the programme on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, approved under the 10th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in partnership with CARICOM Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM).

 

Ms Nikkita Browne – Department of Marine Resources attended the Health and Food Safety training

Mr Jermaine Mike – St.Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards attended the Laboratory Operation training

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