Mr. Thor Asgeirsson has joined the staff of the CRFM secretariat as an International Fisheries Expert forthe period July - December 2013, on sabbatical from the United Nations University–Fisheries Training Programme in Iceland. Mr. Asgeirsson is a marine ecologist by training and is the Deputy Director of the United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme (UNU-FTP) which is hosted by the Marine Research Institute in Iceland. He comes with vast experience in teaching, international fisheries cooperation development and marine research and has since 1999 lead the training of fisheries professionals from developing countries through his work at the UNU-FTP in addition to working as a consultant for international development agencies.

The CRFM and UNU-FTP have had a formal working relationship since 2006 through MOU. Thirteen  fisheries officers, including 9 women, from 9 CRFM Member States have been trained in the 6 month fisheries training programme in Iceland since 2007. Three more will join the UNU-FTP in September 2013. In addition, the CRFM and the UNU-FTP in collaboration with local universities (UWI and University of Belize) have developed and delivered five regional short courses in various areas of fisheries for fisheries department staff since 2009. 

Mr. Asgeirsson main tasks and objectives during his tour of duty at the CRFM will be to assist in conducting a training need assessment in the fisheries administrations in the CRFM Member States, and to develop future cooperative projects between the United Nations University System and the CRFM to further support the development and management of aquaculture and fisheries in the Caribbean.

The assignment of Mr. Asgeirsson to the CRFM is made possible through the generous contribution of the UNU-FTP under an MOU with the CRFM Secretariat.