Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
DIGIFISH: Data Driven Solutions to Inform Decision Making
Richéda Speede1*, Shelly-Ann Cox2*, Vernel Nicholls3, Veta Wade4, Jen Cole4, Ché Greenidge5, Juan Carlos Marti6, Kelvin Carter7, Adriel Jackman2; Corresponding author*: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Blue Shell Productions1; Fisheries Division, Bridgetown, Barbados2; Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisation (BARNUFO)3; Pelagic Data Systems4; Barbados Environmental Conservation Trust5; Remora Fishing Traceability6; Mr. Fish Inc7
ABSTRACT
DigiFish aims to promote the use of digital technologies and innovative data analytical methods to support the application of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) in Barbados. Phase 1 of DigiFish is being implemented by Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO) and Blue Shell Productions in collaboration with the Barbados Environmental Conservation Trust and Pelagic Data Systems (PDS). This initiative piloted the installation of 30 PDS vessel tracking devices on small-scale vessels in Barbados to illustrate how fishing effort changes through space and time. The pilot demonstrates how vessel tracking systems can be used to make informed decisions about how fisheries can be best managed to balance diverse societal and environmental objectives while improving livelihoods. It also aims to foster productive partnerships between industry stakeholders, the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) and Barbados Coast Guard (BCG) in applying integrated data solutions to support fisheries management and MSP. This pilot is now being replicated in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Phase 2 of DigiFish aims to address the fragmentation of seafood value chains and promote traceability by transforming landing sites into intelligent spaces. The project seeks to pilot the installation of 40 Remora Vessel Monitoring Devices (VMS) aboard longline vessels and station two Smart Scales in the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex. The data intelligence and visualization platform will compile the data collected to determine catch location, calculate fishing effort, analyze landings, and begin the traceability certification process. These same data are also relevant for eco-labels related to the premium growing market of responsibly-caught fish. This phase is being implemented by Blue Shell Productions in collaboration with Remora Fishing Traceability and Mr. Fish Inc. In this paper, we provide an overview of the initiative, present a data analytics summary, and offer recommendations for sustaining and scaling up this initiative across the Caribbean.
HOW TO CITE: Speede, R., S-A. Cox, V. Nicholls, V. Wade, J. Cole, C. Greenidge, J. C. Marti, K. Carter, and A. Jackman, 2026. DIGIFISH: Data Driven Solutions to Inform Decision Making. Contribution 3.6, p159-171 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=911
POWERPOINT
VIDEO PRESENTATION
FULL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION
Download CRFM Special Publication No. 37:
Proceedings of the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference
KEY LINKS
Scientific Conference Home Page
Scientific Conference Proceedings Page
Explore all 20th Anniversary Scientific Papers
NOTE
If you have challenges accessing or downloading documents in this series, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , copied to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call us at +501-223-4443. Some browsers do not properly load Google Drive documents, so if you have challenges accessing the PowerPoint slides or the full special publication, try switching to another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
