Posts

Sargassum Management Plan in progress

July 27, 2017 – The Department of Marine Resources in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), under the project Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector (CC4FISH), hosted a Sargassum Management Plan workshop. This plan will address the accumulation of Sargassum on St. Kitts & Nevis coasts and marine environment. Key stakeholders including Governmental Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Fisherfolk organizations that are directly or indirectly affected by Sargassum influx were present.

Ms. Orisia Williams, CC4Fish National Project Coordinator, presented the results of surveys pertaining to the effects of Sargassum influxes. Ms. Nikkita Browne, CC4Fish National Focal Point, explained the two types of Sargassum found within the Caribbean, where they originate and the impacts of Sargassum.

Dr. Leighton Narraine, Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Professor, highlighted an experiment that was conducted by the CFBC students. The experiment used pulverized Sargassum to fertilize various plants which shows Sargassum being an effective fertilizer. He concluded that although the Sargassum influx is unpredictable, local residents should explore commercializing this product.

Participants then completed a draft Plan for the Management of the Accumulation of Sargassum on the Coast and Marine Environment of St. Kitts and Nevis.

A validation meeting will be held in October to finalise the Sargassum Management Plan, which will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

Presentation by Dr Naraine highlighting an experiment that was conducted by the CFBC students

Presentation by Ms. Nikkita Browne, CC4Fish National Focal Point.

Dr Browne holding Sargassum that washed ashore on Conaree beach.

Sargassum floating in the Caribbean Sea.

 

/by

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

/by

Climate Change Adaptation for Fisheries

“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

/by

SKN Department of Marine Resources represented at WECAFC-FIRMS data worshop

WECAFC-FIRMS_Workshop_GroupPhoto_Barbados_2016 (3)

The Subregional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Secretariat of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC)  hosted the WECAFC-FIRMS data workshop in Christ Church, Barbados from 19 to 21 January 2016.

The main goal of this regional workshop, through the WECAFC-FIRMS partnership, is to develop the foundations of a regional data base in support of priority fishery management plans, with initial focus on Flyingfish, Queen Conch and Spiny Lobster.

The workshop was  organized as the cornerstone of the joint FAO – European Union DG Mare’s project, “Strengthening national data collection and regional data sharing through FIRMS to support priority regional fishery management plans in the WECAFC area”.

GIS and Oceanography Officer, Ms Nikkita Browne, represented the St. Kitts-Nevis Department of Marine Resources.

 

 

/by