Fisherfolk Organisations in Fisheries Governance and Policy

Patrick McConney and Maria Pena

Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES)
University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
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ABSTRACT

Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) has drawn attention to the important role resilient fisherfolk organisations need to play in fisheries governance and policy internationally, nationally, and locally. However, fisherfolk organisations are unlikely to be successful or sustainable unless the interactive relationships between them, ecological marine systems and political governing systems are well managed. Stewardship is a concept that has the potential to bridge these domains and provide practical guidance for all actors. Over the past two decades there has been increasing, even if only implicit, attention paid to stewardship in the CRFM region. Several policies, projects and other initiatives have tackled this matter. In this paper we examine some of these initiatives, their outputs, and outcomes. We suggest ways forward to build upon the foundation of progress and advance both the SSF Guidelines as well as the resilience of fisherfolk organisations in the CRFM region.

HOW TO CITE: McConney, P. and M. Pena, 2026. Fisherfolk Organisations in Fisheries Governance and Policy. Contribution 8.1, p527-536 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=945

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On Monday, 6 June 2022, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines celebrated its 45^th National Fisherfolk Day under the theme “Collective action for a safe and resilient Caribbean Fisheries.”The fish catch competition was one of the highlights of the day, with a total of 2,798.31 pounds of fish being caught by 14 boats. The boat ‘Humble Me,’ captained by Earl Medford brought in the heaviest catch of 411 pounds.

During the celebrations, the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour (MAFFRTIL), the Honourable Saboto Caesar, and the Chief Fisheries Officer, Mrs. Jennifer Cruickshank-Howard, encouraged young people to become involved in the fisheries sector and noted that a training program targeting them would soon be launched. Special mention was also made of the recently launched Fleet Expansion Program, which is aimed at poverty alleviation, wealth creation, improving food security and the sustainable usage of the blue economy’s resources. This was the first time since 2019 that there were in-person activities and celebrations given the COVID-19 pandemic and the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in 2021. The Minister pointed out that while the celebrations were scaled down due to the current COVID-19 protocols and the two-year hiatus, they were welcomed by all stakeholders and plans for the 46^th celebrations were already in the pipeline.

The Minister was the chair of the CRFM Ministerial Council from 2021-2022 and is an International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) 2022 Champion. His selection as a champion recognizes his commitment to ensuring and safeguarding the social and ecological sustainability of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in the region.

Photos courtesy: Communication Unit - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour (MAFFRTIL), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.