Fisheries officials from six OECS member states gathered in Dominica last week to conclude the COASTFISH Project, a regional initiative aimed at promoting sustainable use and co-management of coastal fisheries resources in the Caribbean.
Hosted by Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, the two-day seminar took place at Fort Young Hotel from June 3 to 4. The project, officially titled the Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resources in the CARICOM Countries, was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica, alongside the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), shared key outputs, best practices, and lessons learned from pilot projects conducted between 2020 and 2025. These initiatives ranged from artificial reef installations and coral gardening to fish processing and gender mainstreaming. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, biodegradable fish pot panels were introduced to reduce marine waste and improve sustainable fishing practices. Senior fisheries officials highlighted the role of community collaboration, especially involving fishers directly in the design and testing of these innovations.
Senior Fisheries Assistant from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Delight Olivierre, emphasized the importance of including fishers’ voices in project planning and decision-making.
Senior Fisheries Assistant from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Delight Olivierre
The seminar underscored the growing momentum for regional cooperation in sustainable marine resource management and the value of peer learning among island states.