(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Even as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) continues to pursue the establishment of a Common Fisheries Policy and Regime, efforts are being made to ensure the sustainable management of the fisheries resources that are under threat.

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) convened the Sixth Annual Scientific Meeting of Fisheries from June 7-16 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to examine the state of dolphins and flying fish. The two species are under threat from increased fishing for consumption and for recreational fishing activities, in which dolphin is regarded as a prized catch.

Fisheries experts from within the Region and scientists from Venezuela, Brazil, the French West Indies, Canada, and the United States met in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to discuss complementary management and conservation strategies for the fisheries resources and the industries which depend on them. The meeting also saw the incorporating of economic information into the fishery evaluations to provide more socially acceptable and practical management options.

It has been recognised that increased fishing pressure on either dolphin or flying fish will affect the survival of the other, therefore measures to ensure their sustainability were critical. In this regard, the CRFM has led the charge of providing important outputs needed to drive new fisheries governance patterns.

Dolphins and flying fish are important resources in the fisheries sector that contribute to the employment of more than 3500 fisher folk, to foreign export earnings, the tourism industry and to regional food security. They are also currently a priority under the recently initiated Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) project, geared towards exploring options to improve fisheries governance in ways that make the Region sensitive to the multiple uses and benefits of its marine space.

The CRFM’s annual scientific meetings allow fisheries experts to review, assess and to advise on the state of the Region’s fisheries. The meetings are also useful in guiding conservation and management decisions within the sector. So far, more than 30 fisheries have been examined at the scientific meetings.

The results and scientific recommendations of the recently concluded meeting are expected to be presented for review and acceptance during the next annual meeting of CRFM’s fisheries managers.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org