Developing a Policy Framework for Gender Mainstreaming in the Fisheries Sector

PETER A. MURRAY

Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat

ABSTRACT

Notwithstanding notable developmental policies and investments across the Caribbean Community during the late 1990’s to the 2010’s, there appears to have been a persistence of gender inequalities and inequities in several areas, including demography, employment, socio-economic status, participation and governance. Boys and men display low educational performance, social deviance, and numerical prevalence in the criminal justice system, while there have been impacts on women as a result of gender-based violence. Additionally, women’s labour force participation is not yet commensurate with educational attainment. 

Consistent with their international obligations, CRFM Member States have sought to infuse gender equality commitments into their policy frameworks and instruments. These gender priorities are linked in varying degrees to the relevant treaties and the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP).

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has been committed to effectively promoting and supporting the developmental objectives of its Member States. An essential component of the institutional enhancement of the CRFM was seen to be the production of a policy to guide comprehensive Gender Equality Mainstreaming into the plans, programmes, projects, and administration of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. A formal CRFM policy on gender equality in the fisheries sector would have been the framework through which gender analysis and planning could be integrated in a coherent manner at all levels of fisheries sector planning and programming to realise the developmental goals of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Treaty establishing the CRFM. This paper reviews the efforts to bring the fisheries sector up to par with Member States’ gender-related obligations and the notable achievements in that regard.

HOW TO CITE: Murray, P.A., 2026.  Developing a Policy Framework for Gender Mainstreaming in the Fisheries Sector Contribution 2.5, p72-81 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=903

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A Review of National Intersectoral Committee (NIC) Governance Arrangements for Shrimp and Groundfish in the Northern Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NBSLME)

Sanya S. Compton

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ABSTRACT

In the context of climate change and blue economic growth, the sustainable use of marine resources (including fisheries) is of national importance and interest. The countries within the Northern Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NBSLME) are faced with many fisheries governance challenges. The movement of some shrimp and groundfish stocks across national marine jurisdictional boundaries requires national-level management measures that are well-aligned with transboundary approaches. 

The successful implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) across the wider Caribbean is an objective of several international and regional partners. In 2019-2020 the Food and Agriculture Organization on the United National (FAO) and the University of the West Indies Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (UWI-CERMES) collaborated under the Caribbean Large Maine Ecosystem and Northern Brazil Shelf (CLME+) Project (2015-2020) sub-project on “Ecosystem Approach to Shrimp and Groundfish Fisheries in the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem”. One of the key activities of the sub-project was an assessment of participatory governance arrangements, specifically national intersectoral committees (NICs) for marine and ocean governance, their existence and function, in three study countries (Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago).

This paper presents a review of the assessment of governance arrangements conducted for each country under the sub-project. Primary and secondary data were collected through literature review, content analysis, key informant interviews, workshops, and observations. For the purpose of this paper, key stakeholders in each country were consulted in June-July 2023 in order to validate and update information relevant to the current status of NICs. A main finding of the country assessments was that Fisheries Advisory Committees or Councils, where they existed, were the most suitable NIC for participatory governance. While information on NICs remains elusive, the paper also presents good governance principles useful to guide NICs in the NBSLME and beyond.

HOW TO CITE: Compton, S.S., 2026. A Review of National Intersectoral Committee (NIC) Governance Arrangements for Shrimp and Groundfish in the Northern Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NBSLME). Contribution 2.4, p64-71 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=902

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Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Suite of Laws for the Barbados Fisheries Sector

Shelly-Ann Cox, Najla King, Christopher Parker, Gregory Franklin, Colvin Taylor, Therese Moore, Khyle Pooler, Adriel Jackman and Seymour Nurse

Fisheries Division, Bridgetown, Barbados
Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

The Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development suite of laws are part of a legislative reform project for Barbados’ fishing industry which commenced in 2019 under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy. This comprehensive and cutting-edge legislative framework aims to realize to the highest level the potential of Barbados’ fisheries sector and chart the way forward to sustainable development. The suite of laws is two-prong. The draft Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act and its regulations provides the legislative framework for the pre-harvest and harvest aspects of the fisheries sector, whereas the draft Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development (Seafood Markets and Businesses) Act, and its regulations, provides the legislative framework for the post-harvest sector. The new Fisheries Management Regulations (2023) will also be subsumed under the new Act. The suite covers a wide spectrum of areas to support fisheries governance and an adaptive co-management approach. It also presents innovative legal regimes including corporate social responsibility in fisheries, fisheries-specific payment for ecosystem services schemes, seafood traceability and fraud prevention in fisheries, and the creation of the Barbados Institute for fisheries and fisheries-related studies.

The suite of laws was approved by Cabinet on 18 May 2023 after several consultations with stakeholders at different points along the fisheries value chain. Since then, the drafting instructions have been sent to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel to be formalised. Further consultation with stakeholders is anticipated after the bill is drafted, followed by the formal presentation and debate in Parliament. Once enacted, the suite of laws will repeal and replace the existing 1993 Fisheries Act, Cap. 391.

HOW TO CITE: Cox, S-A., N. King, C. Parker, G. Franklin, C. Taylor, T. Moore, K. Pooler, A. Jackman and S. Nurse, 2026. Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Suite of Laws for the Barbados Fisheries Sector. Contribution 2.3, p56-63 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=901

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Review of the Legal and Policy Framework for Sustainable Use of the Living Marine Resources of the CRFM Member States

Milton O. Haughton

CRFM Secretariat, Princess Margaret Dr., PO Box 642, Belize City, Belize

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ABSTRACT

The CRFM was legally established in 2002 and officially launched in March 2003 by CARICOM States as a regional fisheries body to promote sustainable use of the living marine and other aquatic resources within their jurisdiction by the development, efficient management and conservation of such resources. This paper provides a brief overview and analysis of the development of the legal and policy framework and regional cooperation among the CRFM Member States to achieve sustainable use of the marine living resources over the past 20 years.

The 2002 Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism is a framework treaty which sets out the objectives and basic principles, standards, and rules for achieving the purpose for which the organization was established. It has over the past 20 years been strengthened and enhanced by several regional policy documents such as the Castries Declaration on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy, the St. George’s Declaration on Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus), and various Ministerial Resolutions aimed at addressing general and specific technical issues as well as policies aimed at improving general governance and decision-making processes among the participating countries.

HOW TO CITE: Haughton, M.O., 2026. Review of the Legal and Policy Framework for Sustainable Use of the Living Marine Resources of the CRFM Member States [Abstract]. Contribution 2.2, p55 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=900

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The Regional Aspect of Fisheries Governance in the Wider Caribbean

Robin Mahon¹* and Lucia M. Fanning²

Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, UWI, Cavehill Campus, Barbados¹
Marine Affairs Program, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada²

*Corresponding author contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABSTRACT

The Wider Caribbean is the most geopolitically complex region in the world with 45 countries and states in close proximity to each other. Consequently, many fisheries management and development issues are transboundary. Many fisheries species straddle or migrate across national boundaries. These require close cooperation of the relevant countries for effective management. Other issues require close cooperation among countries for effective use of scarce human and financial resources. The institutional arrangements for fisheries are nested with three indigenous organisations covering most countries (CRFM, OECS and OSPESCA). However, major fishing countries such as the USA, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba are not members of any of these making the role of an umbrella organisation important. FAO WECAFC has played this role in the past. However, there are also transboundary biodiversity and pollution issues that are relevant to fisheries creating the need for engagement with the organisations that are responsible for these aspects as well. In the past 20 years through the GEF funded CLME Initiative significant progress has been made with developing a regional coordination mechanism for ocean affairs in the Wider Caribbean that is expected to provide the means of coordination for the many organisations and countries all of which have fisheries interests of one type or another. The establishment and operation of the coordination mechanism which is also to be funded by the GEF is now the major regional level institutional challenge facing the countries of the region.

HOW TO CITE: Mahon, R., and L. M. Fanning, 2026. The Regional Aspect of Fisheries Governance in the Wider Caribbean. Contribution 2.1,  p47-54 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=899

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Inventory of Marine Fish and Aquaculture Factory Processing Establishment in CRFM Member States

Sandra C. Grant*, Adele Ramos, June Masters, and Pamela A. Gibson

Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Secretariat, Belize.
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ABSTRACT

To understand the factory fish processing industry in the Caribbean, the CRFM/CARICOM Fisheries and Aquaculture Priority Commodity Working Group (FISHCOM WG) developed tools to gather information on the industry to: (i) generate a listing of processing establishments in the CRFM Member States with contact information; (ii) understand the nature of their activities (what they process, type of processing/value-addition, level of trade); and (iii) identify challenges and opportunities experienced by fish processors. Data collection and assessments were done between April and August 2022, and all analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.

Altogether, 216 marine fish and aquaculture factory processing establishments were identified: 179 marine fish processors and 37 aquaculture processors. Generally, fish factory processing establishments in CRFM Member States were involved in processing and preparing frozen whole/fillet fish and chilled fresh fish. They provide diverse goods and services ranging from purchasing varied species of wild-caught marine fish from fishermen, fresh aquaculture products from farms, or frozen imported fish, to processing and selling on the domestic and/or export markets.

Networks and communication are key to strengthening the processors group. The CRFM developed a webpage with a Contact Management System for Processors, which will allow processors and other interested parties to search for information and develop networks between individuals/countries. Also, the CRFM/IICA Fisheries Food Safety Hub was developed to strengthen the SPS capacity in the fisheries sector across the Caribbean. The Hub has over 100 documents including manuals, PowerPoint presentations, videos, and other items on health checks and certification, capacity building resources across the value chain, and general information on food safety.

HOW TO CITE: Grant, S.C., A. Ramos, J. Masters, and P. A. Gibson, 2026. Inventory of Marine Fish and Aquaculture Factory Processing Establishments in CRFM Member States. Contribution 1.4,  p33-46 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023 . CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=898

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Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of the Fisheries Sectors within CARIFORUM Countries for Improved Market Access Under the Economic Partnership Agreement

Janet L. Lawrence¹ and Peter A. Murray²

 Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture¹
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism²

ABSTRACT

The fisheries sector is important for CARIFORUM States as it provides employment and contributes to food and nutrition security and export earnings. Over the years, several countries have successfully traded in European and other international markets and accrued economic benefits therefrom. However, some countries are unable to access these markets as they are incapable of satisfying the sanitary and phytosanitary status required by trading partners. To assist countries to capitalise on the market opportunities available under the Economic Partnership Agreement, investments have been made through the European Development Fund in the area of SPS compliance. Specifically, over the past ten years under the 10^th and 11^th European Development Fund (EDF), significant investments were made to address the constraints impacting the Region’s capacity to comply with international SPS standards. Namely, strengthening the regulatory framework through the development of model legislation, strengthening mechanisms to improve coordination among stakeholders involved in national and regional SPS controls of fisheries products, training of stakeholders to meet food safety standards, and improving laboratory capacity to monitor the quality of fish and fisheries products entering regional and international markets. These investments are discussed in relation to their contribution to harmonizing fisheries SPS systems and improving access into international markets.

HOW TO CITE: Lawrence, J.L. and P. A. Murray, 2026. Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of the Fisheries Sectors within CARIFORUM Countries for Improved Market Access Under the Economic Partnership Agreement. Contribution 1.3, p26-32 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023 . CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariathttps://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=897 

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Food for Thought: Fisheries and Aquaculture Contributions to Food Security in the Caribbean

James During¹, Chris Milley¹*, Maria Delesalle¹, Sara Vanderkaden¹, and Shannon Wood¹

NEXUS Coastal Resource Management Ltd., 103-287 Suite 222, Lacewood Dr., Halifax NS, B3M3Y7¹

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ABSTRACT

The past four years have seen a variety of external shocks that have had independent and cumulative impacts on food security throughout the world. For the Caribbean, extreme weather events, the Covid-19 pandemic, global energy crises, and ongoing international conflicts have all demonstrated the vulnerability of food systems in the region. Such exacerbated vulnerabilities have contributed to increased food prices, disruptions to food availability, accessibility, and diversity, and an overreliance on external trade. Cumulative trade deficits, in tandem with international instability and climate change, has visible negative socio-economic outcomes, particularly regarding local food system security, sovereignty, and sustainability.

Fisheries and aquaculture with a directed interest in local markets can play an important role in advancing food security and food sovereignty in the Caribbean. Progressive enhancement of the local supply and value chain through local production, processing, and consumption can promote tandem growth in adjacent sectors, facilitating cumulative capacity building for the future. NEXUS Coastal Resource Management, Ltd., through multiple projects in the region, offers a synthesis of various issues in the interest of expanding current discourse on local marine protein production, processing, accessibility, and consumption. Supported by our experience across the Caribbean, this paper examines some of the considerations necessary to promote greater use of the local fisheries and aquaculture sectors in promoting food security and food sovereignty in the Caribbean.

HOW TO CITE: During, J., C. Milley, M. Delesalle, S. Vanderkaden, and S. Wood, 2026.  Food for Thought: Fisheries and Aquaculture Contributions to Food Security in the Caribbean.  Contribution 1.2, p14-25 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023 . CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariathttps://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=896 

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Driving the Circular Economy by Transforming Fish Offal (“fish waste”) through Processing: a Barbadian Case Study for Resource Optimization in the Caribbean Region

Omardath Maharaj¹, Yvette Diei Ouadi², and Phil Lashley³

Agribusiness Finance Consultant¹ (FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean), Fishery and Aquaculture Officer² (FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean), Executive Director³ (PLA Inc.)

ABSTRACT

Fish by-products constitute between 30–70 percent of fish after being processed into fillets and other edible products and were previously considered to be waste. In Barbados, approximately 5 tonnes of these fish parts are generated daily; the largest share of which is redirected to the landfill. The direct impacts include the environmental burden of the waste, since the decomposing offal produces abundant quantities of methane, a gas with an estimated 20 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide, thus contributing to climate change. Another major consideration is the continued demand for landfill space in circumstances of land scarcity within the context of SIDS. This waste is a missed opportunity for transforming the previously untapped raw materials into valuable food and silage-derived products (feed and fertilizer). These lost opportunities are increasingly important in a world with rising food, feed and fertilizer costs impacting farmers and consumers alike.
 
The FAO and partners from national and regional institutions have been working to optimize the recovery process of the fish waste while establishing the safety, comparative growth performance and cost efficiency of fish silage-derived feed relative to imported feed, and their cost efficiency. Awareness of this prompted the establishment of a national fish silage platform, leading to the integration of the fish waste utilization concept in the 2022-2030 Fisheries Policy of Barbados, capacity building of women fish processors, inclusion of small-scale farmers and investment for scaling up.

The pipeline support to the establishment of a national fish silage reference training centre, and incubator unit for young farmers would further widen the potential for expansion of this innovative approach. It holds promise for other countries in the Caribbean region, given that livestock feed importation and fish processing are common to all CARICOM countries. Creating new revenue streams, coupled with the environmental and social benefits of fish waste recovery, as compared to dumping, can contribute to the realization of the commitment of CARICOM to reduce the region’s large and unsustainable extra-regional food import bill by 25% by 2025 and is well aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

HOW TO CITE: Maharaj, O., Y. Diei Ouadi, and P. Lashley. 2025. Driving the Circular Economy by Transforming Fish Offal (“fish waste”) through Processing: a Barbadian Case Study for Resource Optimization in the Caribbean Region. Contribution 1.1, p1-13 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023 . CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariathttps://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=895

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