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Launch – A number of Member States of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), in addition to representatives of regional and worldwide observer organizations, together with the Caribbean Community of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) and the Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO), met from Wednesday, 6 March to Friday, 8 March 2024, to deliberate on developments in fisheries and aquaculture. The CRFM convened this 22nd Common Assembly of the Caribbean Fisheries Discussion board to obtain technical inputs from nationwide fisheries authorities throughout the Caribbean, in addition to key stakeholders and companions, in addressing the sector’s priorities.
The Discussion board additionally held elections for a brand new chair and vice chair, in addition to members of the Govt Committee of the Discussion board and the Useful resource Mobilization Sub-committee. Trinidad and Tobago, which served as chair of the Discussion board for the previous 12 months, handed over the management to the Turks and Caicos Islands. After the elections, Kathy Lockhart, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Division of Fisheries and Marine Sources Administration, Turks and Caicos Islands, assumed the Chair, succeeding Louanna Martin, Appearing Director of Fisheries, Fisheries Division, Trinidad and Tobago.
In welcoming attendees to the Discussion board Assembly, Martin highlighted the worth of the CRFM, an intergovernmental establishment of the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM), to Trinidad and Tobago, one among its 17 Member States. She mentioned that the CRFM has been instrumental in addressing the myriad points confronting the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Through the opening session, Milton Haughton, Govt Director on the CRFM Secretariat, famous that the Caribbean Fisheries Discussion board was assembly in opposition to the backdrop of myriad challenges and alternatives to harness the advantages of blue financial progress.
“However the assorted world crises—the wars in Ukraine and the Center East—and the difficult financial state of affairs in lots of our nations, now we have to proceed to work onerous to strengthen our economies and to supply new progress alternatives, particularly for the youth, which is essential for our future prosperity,” Haughton mentioned.
He added that this affluent future lies in using the Caribbean’s aquatic sources and growing the aquaculture potential on land and within the marine surroundings.
Haughton famous that though the CRFM has made vital strides in working with Caribbean nations over the previous 21 years, rather more work stays to be executed. He knowledgeable the Caribbean Fisheries Discussion board that the Authorities of Canada had not too long ago authorized CD$4.2 million in funding for the CRFM for the Sustainable Applied sciences for Adaptation and Resilience in Fisheries (STAR-Fish) Challenge, which goals to advance the clear power transition within the Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture sectors. He additionally highlighted the latest graduation of a US$48 million undertaking being part-financed by the World Surroundings Facility (GEF) titled Selling Nationwide Blue Economic system Priorities Via Marine Spatial Planning within the Caribbean Giant Marine Ecosystem Plus (“BE-CLME+”), which goals to advertise blue financial system growth by way of marine spatial planning and marine protected areas, an ecosystem method to fisheries, and sustainable seafood worth chains.
The Govt Director of the CRFM briefed the Discussion board on ongoing initiatives, such because the Strengthening Sustainable Use and Administration of Coastal Fisheries Sources in CARICOM Nations (COASTFISH) Challenge, which is being carried out with funding from the Authorities of Japan, and the Sargassum Merchandise for Local weather Resilience Challenge, which is being funded by the Authorities of New Zealand.
He additionally up to date the Discussion board on the work being executed in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Analysis and Growth Institute (CARDI) and the College of the West Indies (UWI) to begin pilot-scale manufacturing of a liquid fertilizer from Sargassum, in addition to plans to make sure complete and protected utilization of the useful resource by changing the by-products to different sustainable merchandise.
Haughton additionally up to date the Discussion board on the World Commerce Group (WTO) subsidies negotiations held final week in Abu Dhabi. He suggested the Discussion board that the settlement was not finalized as a result of vital variations remained among the many nations. He urged the Member States to pay eager consideration to such worldwide processes and be sure that the Caribbean’s pursuits are defended and totally addressed, given the potential implications for the fisheries of Caribbean nations and the area.
The Discussion board’s deliberations, very important for forging the way in which ahead for the sustainable growth of the Caribbean’s aquatic sources, precede the upcoming 18th Common Assembly of the CRFM Ministerial Council, comprised of Ministers liable for fisheries from its 17 Caribbean Member States.
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