Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) – Overview

A presentation by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat

Prepared by S. Singh-Renton Programme Manager, Research and resource Assessment,

CRFM Secretariat

1. The CRFM - History and 1. The CRFM - History and rationale rationale

2. CRFM Core Structure and 2. CRFM Core Structure and Functions Functions

3. Ongoing and recent fisheries 3. Ongoing and recent fisheries management challenges for the management challenges for the regionregion

4. Major CRFM achievements 4. Major CRFM achievements providing opportunity and providing opportunity and direction for addressing challenges direction for addressing challenges and fulfilling goalsand fulfilling goals

PRESENTATION LAYOUTPRESENTATION LAYOUT

1. The CRFM - History and 1. The CRFM - History and RationaleRationale

NEED FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION??

REGION’S MAJOR FISHERY RESOURCES

SHARED OR SHARED CONCERNS

Regional Body Actively coordinating management

Shrimp Yes None

Lobster and conch

Yes None

Large pelagic Yes ICCAT (not dolphinfish)

Small coastal pelagic (including flyingfish)

Yes None

Reef and slope Yes (shared shelves)

None

Groundfish Yes None

CIDA CARICOM

National Fishery Management systems

HISTORY & RATIONALE (1)

CFRAMP – CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management Programme (1991-2001)

Training

Resource Assessment

RegionalFisheriesMechanism

CARIBBEAN REGIONAL FISHERIES MECHANISM

(CRFM) (2002 agreement)

HISTORY & RATIONALE (2)

CRFM Objectives:-

• Efficient management and sustainable development of fishery resources within the jurisdictions of Member States;

• Promotion and establishment of co-operative arrangements among interested States for the efficient management of shared, straddling or highly migratory fishery resources;

• Provision of technical advisory and consultative services to Member States in the development, management and conservation of their fishery resources.

2. CRFM Core Structure & 2. CRFM Core Structure & FunctionsFunctions

Ministerial Council (DECISION-MAKING ORGAN)

Caribbean Fisheries Forum(FISHERIES MANAGEMENT &

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY ORGAN)

The Technical Unit(CRFM SECRETARIAT)

CRFM IS A MANAGEMENT ADVISORY & REGULATORY BODY

CARICOM COUNCILS (COTED & COFCOR)

RESOURCE & TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS &

COMMITTEES

CRFM OBSERVERS (CARISEC, OECS, UWI, CNFO, FAO)

Fisheries Management – Definition & the Management Cycle

FAO DEFINITION: The integrated process of information gathering, analysis, planning, consultation, decision-making, allocation of resources and formulation and implementation, with enforcement, as necessary, of regulations or rules which govern fisheries activities in order to ensure the continued productivity of the resources and accomplishment of other fisheries objectives.

DATA COLLECTORS, DATA MANAGERSDATA COLLECTORS, DATA MANAGERS

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AT CRFM REGIONAL LEVELFISHERIES MANAGEMENT AT CRFM REGIONAL LEVELFISHERIES MANAGEMENT AT CRFM REGIONAL LEVELFISHERIES MANAGEMENT AT CRFM REGIONAL LEVEL

DIRECT USERS OF THE RESOURCE & OTHER STAKEHOLDERS (E.G. FISHERS, FISHERFOLK GROUPS, PROCESSORS)

Caribbean Fisheries Forum(Fisheries Directors)Caribbean Fisheries Forum(Fisheries Directors)

CRFM Ministerial Council(policy/ decision-makers)

CRFM Ministerial Council(policy/ decision-makers) Fisheries

Directors

Fisheries Directors

ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING(FISHERIES SCIENTISTS)ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING(FISHERIES SCIENTISTS)

Regional fisherfolk

organisation

3. Ongoing and Recent 3. Ongoing and Recent Fisheries Management Fisheries Management Challenges for the RegionChallenges for the Region

Functional Levels of Fishing Functional Levels of Fishing Industry & Major Influencing Industry & Major Influencing

Factors Factors

1. Global shift towards implementing Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) to take into account inter-dependence of organisms, and the inter-dependence of human demands on the ecosystem

2. Consideration of global environmental change and climate change impacts

3. Application of the precautionary and other common sense approaches, e.g. input controls such as limited user licenses

4. In view of 1, there will be a need to develop functional multiple-level governance networks and partnerships for an integrated & compatible policy

5. Public education and political will

POLICY/ STRATEGY/ DECISION-MAKING LEVEL

LEVEL FISHERIES FISHERIES-RELATED

Global/ international

Regional

Sub-regional

National

Local

ICCAT Other

RFMOs, e.g.

WCPFC

UN FAO – global fisheries instruments

prescribing EAF

Regional Commission for the Atlantic Ocean & Adjacent Seas

Caribbean Sea Commission; ACS; CARICOM (Councils & Initiatives, e.g. COHSOD, & EPA); OECS; Regional instruments, e.g. Cartagena Convention; NGOs

Caribbean RFOs, e.g. WECAFC,

IOCARIBE, OSPESCA,

CRFM

Other Atlantic

RFOs, e.g. SEAFO, GFCM, NAFO

National Fisheries Authority/ National Fishery Advisory

Committee (NFAC)

Government (Cabinet); specific government ministries (legislation, enforcement, finance, planning, trade, environment, manufacturing, construction); NGOs

Fisher folk cooperatives & fisher folk organizations

Fisheries –related local community groups, e.g. dealing with welfare

UN Economic and Social Council; UNESCO; UNEP; ILO; IMO, WTO, etc. and also global NGOs, e.g. ICSW

Multiple level network – Tuna fishery example

UN FAO

ICCAT

Carib’n RFOs + ICCAT

NFAs with technical

advisory arm

SUB-REGIONALSUB-REGIONAL

NATIONALNATIONAL

1. Holistic approaches in data, research, analysis, and management advice formulation are required to address multiple goals of all stakeholders: biological, ecological, environmental, social and economic

2. Achieving effective coordination and collaboration among projects and partners

3. Maintaining focus and direction on long term goals, especially during implementation of short-term projects

4. Limited institutional and human resource capacity

SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL ADVISORY LEVEL

4. Major CRFM achievements 4. Major CRFM achievements providing opportunity and providing opportunity and direction for addressing direction for addressing challenges and fulfilling goals challenges and fulfilling goals

Ministerial Council (DECISION-MAKING ORGAN)

Caribbean Fisheries Forum(FISHERIES MANAGEMENT &

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY ORGAN)

The Technical Unit(CRFM SECRETARIAT)

CRFM IS A MANAGEMENT ADVISORY & REGULATORY BODY

CARICOM COUNCILS (COTED & COFCOR)

RESOURCE & TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS &

COMMITTEES

CRFM OBSERVERS (CARISEC, OECS, UWI, CNFO, FAO)

AT POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING LEVEL

CRFM Ministerial Council CRFM Ministerial Council holds separate meetings to make decisions on common fisheries issues at regional level.

Caribbean Fisheries Forum (CFF) handles shared concerns Common Fisheries Policy & RegimeCommon Fisheries Policy & Regime, requested by Heads Of Govs

to address a range of fisheries issues under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) initiative

Establishment of Regional Fisherfolk Organization & network, now with formal recognized representation at CRFM meetings.

Improved participation in ICCAT management activities that has provided better protection of large pelagic fishing investments

Regional Declaration to reduce Illegal fishing and its impacts Formulation and commencement of key projects and partnerships

(e.g. CLME; JICA; ACP Fish II; UNU FTP (Iceland))

AT SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL ADVISORY LEVEL

Caribbean Fisheries Forum (CFF) meets annually (advisory body to Council)

CRFM annual scientific meetingsCRFM annual scientific meetings to evaluate the health status of fisheries and to recommend management options. Publishes annual fishery reports (>46 fisheries analysed since 2004).

CRFM Working Group on Data, Methods & TrainingCRFM Working Group on Data, Methods & Training pursues options to improve data, assessment methods, & scientific capacity

CARIFIS software and database, developed to harmonize standards of data collection and storage among CRFM States

Improved contributions to ICCAT scientific activities that build responsible fishing profile internationally

FISHERY RESOURCE ANALYSES CONDUCTED BY CRFM DURING 2004-2009

SPINY LOBSTER BAHAMAS, BELIZE, JAMAICA, ST. LUCIA, TCI 04, 06-09

QUEEN CONCH BAHAMAS, JAMAICA, ST. LUCIA, TCI 06-09

SERRA SPANISH MACKEREL TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 04

WAHOO BARBADOS, DOMINICA, GRENADA, ST. LUCIA, SVG 04, 07

KING MACKEREL TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 06-07

DOLPHINFISH BARBADOS, DOMINICA, GRENADA, ST. LUCIA, SVG 06

CREVALLE JACK TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 08

RED HIND ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES, MONTSERRAT 04, 09

NASSAU GROUPER BELIZE 07

QUEEN TRIGGERFISH MONTSERRAT 09

BIGEYE SCAD, MACKEREL SCAD, ROUND SCAD

GRENADA, ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES 04

BIGEYE SCAD, MACKEREL SCAD ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES 09

PINK SHRIMP, SEABOB TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 04

BROWN SHRIMP SURINAME 07

ATLANTIC SEABOB GUYANA, SURINAME 06-09

SHRIMP FISHERIES TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 06

RED SNAPPER GUYANA 06

LANE SNAPPER TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 06

SEATROUT & BANGAMARY GUYANA 07

WHITEMOUTH CROAKER TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 08

THE THE ENDEND