Members of the Women In Maritime Association Caribbean (WIMAC) from across the region represented at the first regional workshop on Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector for MTCC Caribbean (Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre) and The Global MTCC Network (GMN) with support from the European Union (EU), International Maritime Organization (IMO) was hosted at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) from June 27-28, 2017.
The WIMAC ladies and gentlemen also attended the inaugural “Enhancing Ocean Governance in the Caribbean Region” symposium from June 29-30, 2017. Which was hosted the Marine Studies of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, and Well Services Petroleum Company Ltd. Both conferences had participants from 12 territories across the region.
Back Row (Left to Right): Suzette Balkaran, Deniece Aiken, Tricia Greaux, April Peters, Katarina McGhee, Colin Young, Kassandra George, Adanna Bonas, Jillianjoy Davis
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The St.Kitts and Nevis Conserving Biodiversity Project Coordinating Unit is hosting an orientation session for the newly recruited Beach and Marine Conservation Officers. The purpose of these Conservation officers is to assist in the maintenance of the marine and coastal environment by encouraging users of these areas to comply with the National Conservation and Environment Protection Act 1989 and Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act 2016. The protection of the Federations’s fragile eco-system is of paramount importance to these officers who are namely; Leonjo Daniel, Lockskey Edwards, Ashadi Duncan, Tasia Jones, Kaywana Hughes and Jevanito Huggins.
Claudia Drew, Project Coordinator commented “ the Project Coordination Unit has attained one of the critical project milestones towards operationalization of the Marine Management Areas through the employment of Beach and Marine Conservation.”
The orientation training includes; map reading, search and rescue, marine tour to all conservation zones within the St. Kitts and Nevis Marine Management Area, water quality monitoring, and heritage and culture. The Beach and Marine Conservation Officers will also be doing awareness and outreach at the Summer Turtle Camp organized by the St.Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network.
Participants in training with a session facilitator Phynora Ible
The Marine Studies of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, and Well Services Petroleum Company Ltd hosted the inaugural “Enhancing Ocean Governance in the Caribbean Region” symposium from June 29-30, 2017. There are 12 participating territories from across the region in attendance and Ms Tricia Greaux – Department of Marine Resources and Mr Nigel Williams- Department of Maritime Affairs are representing St.Kitts and Nevis.
The opening ceremony consisted of several remarks from high ranking Government officials from Ministries of Legal, Defense, Coast Guard and Education as well as the President of Trinidad and Tobago His Excellency Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, ORTT, SC.
Presentations on The status of Ocean Governance in the wider Caribbean and Challenges to Effective Implementation included; The Cartagena Convention: A Caribbean Ocean Governance Framework by Dr. Lorna Inniss, Piracy and Armed Robbery by Judge James L. Kateka, Support to Implementation: IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme by Mr Colin Young, Ocean Governance- The Role of the Maritime Services Division by Lieutenant Commander Ronald Alfred. Prior to several panel discussions were presentations on Jurisdictional challenges and Management of resources in the wider Caribbean Sea.
The symposium concludes with action items that were initiated by the partners and territories to play a role in Ocean Governance of the wider Caribbean region.
St.Kitts and Nevis representatives at the Ocean Governance workshop
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The first regional workshop on Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector for MTCC Caribbean (Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre) and The Global MTCC Network (GMN) with support from the European Union (EU), International Maritime Organization (IMO) was hosted at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) from June 27-28, 2017. The conference had participants from 12 territories across the region and Ms Tricia Greaux – Department of Marine Resources and Mr Nigel Williams- Department of Maritime Affairs are representing St.Kitts and Nevis.
The MARPOL Annex VI is a focus of the workshop; climate change indicators such as sea level rise, coastal zone degradation, severe storms and increased temperatures and exploring the impacts of both land and marine based emissions.
“Protect our natural resources…since the blue Caribbean sea joints us rather than separates us” said Mr. Ronald Alfred, Director Maritime Services Division, Trinidad and Tobago.
The importance of this project on a regional level is due to the inter and intra trading within the Caribbean and its impacts on industrial development.The MTCC Caribbean objective is to address the mitigation of emissions in the Maritime sector, focus on the Caribbean as an Emission Controlled Area, facilitate the uptake of available energy efficient technology throughout the Caribbean region, harmonize the approach to data gathering and information sharing, and to endure the commitment to promoting sustainable shipping in the region.
The outcomes of the workshop include understanding the project’s objectives and initiating pilot projects, conducting a needs analysis, creating a framework for implementation with the Caribbean territories thereby encouraging buy-in for the project objectives.
Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector workshop participants
St.Kitts and Nevis participants in the Climate Change Mitigation in Maritime Sector workshop
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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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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“The project launching workshop for CC4FISH (Climate Change Adaption in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector) was very timely as we need to take a more active response as the fisheries sector is particularly vulnerable to climate change “said Nikkita Browne, SKN National Focal Point – CC4FISH project.
From February 7 – 9 2017, in Barbados, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) conducted a project launching workshop for CC4FISH (Climate Change Adaption in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector). Nikkita Browne-SKN National Focal Point and Tricia Greaux – Marine Management Area and Habitat Monitoring Officer from the Department of Marine Resources were country representatives at the workshop.
Raymon Van Anrooij, FAO/WECAFC – “Having all of the project countries and regional partners together at the workshop promotes synergy and fast forwards the implementation of the project which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and COP 21 targets for the Caribbean region “. The project countries involved include; Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St.Kitts and Nevis, St.Lucia, St.Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Entities such as COPACO, UWI, TNC, CRFM, CNFO, and Clear Caribbean serve as project partners.
Dr. Iris Monnereau – Regional Project Coordinator for CC4FISH gave an overview of the project and further commented “Given the impacts of climate change on the fisheries sector in recent years for example; increased intensity and number of tropical storms and the devastation they have on the fisheries sector, habitat and biodiversity loss through coral bleaching events across the region and the enormous Sargassum influx in recent years which affected the sustainability of fisheries this workshop is critical. “
Projected implementation would span over a four year period. There are three project components; increased awareness and understanding of climate change impacts and vulnerability for effective climate change adaptation in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, improved resilience of fisherfolk and coastal communities and aquaculturists, and climate change adaptation mainstreamed in multilevel fisheries governance.
Workshop SKN representatives – Nikkita Browne and Tricia Greaux
Nikkita and Tricia presenting the SKN Country presentation for implementation of the CC4FISH project
The Department of Marine Resources hosted a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) construction session done at on January 11 2017. FADs are man-made objects used to attract ocean going pelagic fish such as marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi (dolphin fish). This is a relatively new fishery to the Federation and is being promoted by the Department of Marine Resources in collaboration with the SKN FAD Fisher Group.
The construction session was conducted by DMR through the expertise of the CARIFICO Liaison Officer – Ms Ashadi Duncan, the participants included three (3) FAD fishers namely; Jermon Smith, Roger Ottley and Franklyn Challenger. FAD heads were constructed using buoys /floats and other floating material that would be transported out to specific off shore locations which are then anchored to the ocean floor with concrete blocks. From this workshop there were four (4) heads that were constructed.
These sessions are held to assist fishers interact in team building exercises and also as a means to educate them on different ways to construct these FAD devices. The benefit of this knowledge is directly linked to livelihood development within this fishery.
DMR HOST TRAINER OF TRAINERS DIAMONDBACK SQUID WORKSHOP
The Department of Marine Resource is hosting a Trainer of Trainers Diamondback Squid Workshop from 9 – 13 January 2017. With the identification of Diamondback Squid resources in the marine jurisdiction of the Federation, the DMR is seeking to carry out trials to assess the possibility of promoting the utilization of these resources. This workshop is the product of collaborations between the DMR, Department of Fisheries Nevis, as well as local and regional fishers to essentially train persons who will then train other fishers.
“There are five major fisheries: lobster, conch, reef and slope fisheries, small coastal pelagic and large ocean pelagic. Exploring the Diamondback Squid as a fishery can bring added economic benefit to St.Kitts and Nevis and provide food security while having the potential of enhancing the livelihood of fisherfolk. The DMR should work on expanding the market for Diamondback squid so more persons can enjoy it as much as I do”, added Workshop facilitator, Mitchell Lay, a fisher of Diamondback Squid in the Antigua.
The Trainer of Trainers Diamondback Squid Workshop has the following objectives:
Promote awareness of the availability of Diamondback Squid fisheries resources in St. Kitts and Nevis
Train fishers in the production of fishin g gear for catching Diamondback Squid
Demonstrate the technique to catch Diamondback Squid
Train fishers in processing and packaging Diamondback Squid
Demonstrate the use of gear and equipment for catching Diamondback Squid suitable for small fishing vessels
Workshop activities include an initial gear and equipment assessment. Aboard MV Transformation, an assessment of potential fishing grounds was done on Tuesday morning. On site at the DMR, there were demonstrations of different gear types, gear making and a presentation of the squid life cycle, sustainability and fishing. Experimental fishing trips will be done throughout the week to test the gear. On Friday, Diamondback Squid processing and value added activities and presentations would be completed.
Facilitator Mitchell Lay and Clive Wilkinson – preparing the gear
Fisheries Officer – Kharim Saddler
Fisheries Officer Kareem Wilkin assisting Kharim Saddler with set up
Squid gear and equipment
Participants from Department of Marine Resources and Department of Fisheries Nevis
After attending the Health and Food Safety capacity building trainings held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Department of Marine Resources staff Ms Nikkita Browne assisted by Ms Marva George conducted an inspection of the Basseterre Fisheries Complex. The first site visit for this year occurred on 5 January 2017.
Ms Browne and Ms George used the procedures outlined from the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) training course surrounding inspections for the fisheries sector especially designed for processing facilities. In the future, other inspections will take place at landing sites, aquaculture sites, as well as small scale and high seas fishing vessels.
Photo taken from inside the Basseterre Fisheries Complex during inspection procedures
