(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Two regional studies aimed at strengthening governance and management of flying fish and large pelagic species will be launched in Bridgetown, Barbados this week.

The launch programmes on 10-11 February are organized by the Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat in collaboration with the GEF-Funded Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project based in Cartagena, Colombia. The programmes are being held following the signing last December of two Agreements by CRFM and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) based in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the execution of two case studies which have a combined budget of US$508, 000 and a duration of two years.

The studies will be implemented in the Region by the CRFM Secretariat in collaboration with participating countries and regional partner institutions concerned with fisheries, such as, CERMES/UWI, the Network of Regional Fisherfolk Organisations, and the French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea (IFREMER).

Flying fish and large pelagic species such as wahoo, blackfin tuna, marlin, and dolphinfish are very important to Caribbean countries because of their contribution to food security and livelihoods.

The ultimate goal of the studies is to ensure that the people of the Region obtain optimum sustainable social and economic benefits from these fish stocks which are shared by several Caribbean States.

The studies will seek to develop the information base for improving understanding of the flying fish and selected large pelagic fisheries, including information on the importance of recreational fishing activities. The information collected will then be used to prepare Strategic Action Programmes (SAP) for the fisheries. The SAPs will include a shared vision, and the required interventions, such as the governance and management reforms agreed by the countries to achieve long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fish stocks while safeguarding the marine ecosystems in which they are found.

The Steering Committees for the studies will meet in Barbados this week to discuss and finalize the work plan and other arrangements for the start-up of field activities.

CONTACT: piu@caricom.org