Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) – Overview

1. Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) – Overview Prepared by S. Singh-Renton Programme Manager, Research and resource Assessment, CRFM Secretariat A presentation by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat

2. 1. The CRFM - History and rationale 2. CRFM Core Structure and Functions 3. Ongoing and recent fisheries management challenges for the region4. Major CRFM achievements providing opportunity and direction for addressing challenges and fulfilling goals PRESENTATION LAYOUT

3. 1. The CRFM - History and Rationale

4. NEED FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION??

5. HISTORY & RATIONALE (1) CIDA CARICOM CFRAMP – CARICOM Fisheries Resource Assessment and Management Programme (1991-2001) National Fishery Management systems Regional Fisheries Mechanism Resource Assessment Training CARIBBEAN REGIONAL FISHERIES MECHANISM (CRFM) (2002 agreement)

6. 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.

7. 2. CRFM Core Structure & Functions

8. CRFM IS A MANAGEMENT ADVISORY & REGULATORY BODY Ministerial Council (DECISION-MAKING ORGAN) CARICOM COUNCILS (COTED & COFCOR) CRFM OBSERVERS (CARISEC, OECS, UWI, CNFO, FAO) Caribbean Fisheries Forum (FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY ORGAN) RESOURCE & TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS & COMMITTEES The Technical Unit (CRFM SECRETARIAT)

10. 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.

11. FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AT CRFM REGIONAL LEVEL DIRECT USERS OF THE RESOURCE & OTHER STAKEHOLDERS (E.G. FISHERS, FISHERFOLK GROUPS, PROCESSORS) Fisheries Directors DATA COLLECTORS, DATA MANAGERS CRFM Ministerial Council (policy/ decision-makers) Fisheries Directors ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING (FISHERIES SCIENTISTS) Caribbean Fisheries Forum (Fisheries Directors) Regional fisherfolk organisation

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

13. Functional Levels of Fishing Industry & Major Influencing Factors

14. 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 Consideration of global environmental change and climate change impacts Application of the precautionary and other common sense approaches, e.g. input controls such as limited user licenses In view of 1, there will be a need to develop functional multiple-level governance networks and partnerships for an integrated & compatible policy Public education and political will POLICY/ STRATEGY/ DECISION-MAKING LEVEL

15. Multiple level network – Tuna fishery example UN FAO ICCAT Carib’n RFOs + ICCAT SUB-REGIONAL NFAs with technical advisory arm NATIONAL

16. 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 Achieving effective coordination and collaboration among projects and partners Maintaining focus and direction on long term goals, especially during implementation of short-term projects Limited institutional and human resource capacity SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL ADVISORY LEVEL

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

18. CRFM IS A MANAGEMENT ADVISORY & REGULATORY BODY Ministerial Council (DECISION-MAKING ORGAN) CARICOM COUNCILS (COTED & COFCOR) CRFM OBSERVERS (CARISEC, OECS, UWI, CNFO, FAO) Caribbean Fisheries Forum (FISHERIES MANAGEMENT & SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY ORGAN) RESOURCE & TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS & COMMITTEES The Technical Unit (CRFM SECRETARIAT)

19. AT POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING LEVEL • 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 & 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))

20. AT SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL ADVISORY LEVEL • Caribbean Fisheries Forum (CFF) meets annually (advisory body to Council) • CRFM annual scientific meetingsto 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 & Trainingpursues 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

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