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 
Leveraging Lessons From the Caribbean to Enhance the Value-Chain Approach in Developing Sustainable Small-Scale Capture Fisheries
Alexander S.T*. Girvan, Melanie Andrews-Bacchus, Sharon D. Hutchinson, Terrence Phillips
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ABSTRACT
Participatory Value Chain Analysis (VCA) provides a structured approach to developing sustainable small-scale fishery value chains by engaging key stakeholders in identifying gaps and providing suitable solutions to add value and create livelihood opportunities along seafood value chains. When small-scale fishery VCAs are used to inform policy and evaluate investment opportunities, they can yield significant positive results for environmental sustainability, social benefits and socio-economic resilience to climate change and economic shocks. VCAs can also contribute to the achievement of important regional and global goals, including the CARICOM 25% by 2025 Reduction in the Regional Food Bill initiative, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Strategic Plan 2022 – 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This paper is novel in reviewing the recent application of VCAs in Caribbean small-scale fisheries for Queen conch in Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Caribbean Spiny lobster in Jamaica; Mahi-Mahi in Barbados and Seabob in Guyana in order to obtain lessons learned, identify best practices, and make recommendations for improving VCAs in small-scale fisheries. The review outlines criteria for selecting and prioritising species for VCAs, guidelines for applying VCAs in Caribbean small-scale fisheries using participatory and gender-sensitive methods, and strategies for identifying and engaging key stakeholders in VCAs. The paper also discusses how VCAs can be used to better position sustainable small-scale fisheries development in the context of the Caribbean blue economy and contribute to the success of important global and regional food security and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
HOW TO CITE: Girvan, A.S.T., M. Andrews-Bacchus, S. D. Hutchinson, T. Phillips, 2026. Leveraging Lessons From the Caribbean to Enhance the Value-Chain Approach in Developing Sustainable Small-Scale Capture Fisheries. Contribution 3.4, p133-148 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=909
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