Possibilities For A Common Fisheries Development And Management Policy For The Organization Of Eastern Caribbean States Oecs

The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) face special development challenges, including limited institutional capacity, high per capita costs of basic social and infrastructure services, and vulnerability to natural disasters and other external shocks. This note identifies specific issues related to financial management and procurement. This note focused on the implications of differing donor practices for financing capital projects in a generally weak institutional and implementation environment for capital projects. The quality of implementation is also affected by a lack of adequate project management skills. The objective of this Policy Note is to increase the efficiency of capital investment project implementation in the OECS countries by (i) contributing to a more efficient use of limited institutional and human resource capacity, (ii) lowering transaction costs, and (iii) optimizing the use of public funds, while (iv) maintaining a robust control framework. The OECS economies are highly dependent on donor assistance for funding investment projects. This note identifies opportunities for sequential mainstreaming of fiduciary functions (financial management and procurement) and for a gradual approach to using mechanisms. The OECS countries' current efforts to rationalize institutional arrangements for capital projects by consolidating implementing entities or further mainstreaming implementation within existing structures in line ministries are consistent with the recommendations of the Country Program Quality Enhancement Review conducted by the World Bank in 2004.

There is increasing awareness of the need for, and a growing movement to apply, the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) and develop sustainable linkages between climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management (DRM). Fisheries learning exchanges (FLEs) can be useful for enhancing fisheries management that is guided by these concepts. In the Caribbean there exists little guidance on FLEs that focus on the concepts of EAF, CCA and DRM. Although best practices exist, guidance for designing and implementing suitable exchange programmes is almost non-existent. This report seeks to fill this gap by providing practical guidance. First, concepts are presented to underpin good FLE practices. Two case studies from the Caribbean are offered as examples of recent FLEs, with lessons learnt from the experiences. Next, guidelines for organising FLEs are outlined, followed by potential challenges and solutions to be considered. Finally, useful resources for additional practical guidance are set out with links for easy access.

Climate change related natural disasters pose serious threats and risks to livelihoods of fishermen and women as well as to food security in the Caribbean. To respond to these threats and risks, the FAO, the Department of State of the United States of America and the World Bank introduced an initiative on climate risk insurance for the Caribbean Fisheries sector as part of a global initiative on Blue Growth. In support of this initiative a survey was conducted to identify fisheries assets that could be insured, value these assets, identify climate smart fisheries investments and practices and carry out an insurance needs and demand survey. This Circular presents survey findings from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Some of the key findings are that: 97 percent of the fishing vessels and fishing assets were not insured, while in each of the CARICOM countries there is at least one local insurer offering marine insurance; 83 percent of the fishers would purchase insurance coverage for their vessels if it would be more affordable; only 17 percent of the fishers had a health insurance and 20 percent had an life insurance policy. Moreover, more than one-third of the fishers would be interested to invest in safe harbor, anchorage, haul out and vessel storage facilities, including installation of bumper rails on piers and the use of fenders on boats and piers, if this would reduce insurance premiums. Based on the findings of the insurance demand survey, an organizational arrangement for a Caribbean Fisheries Risk Insurance Facility (CFRIF) was developed, presented at various regional fora and shared with interested stakeholders.

The Inception Workshop for the Developing Organizational Capacity for Ecosystem Stewardship and Livelihoods in Caribbean Small-Scale Fisheries (StewardFish) project was convened at United Nations House, in Barbados, from 13 to 14 September 2018. In attendance, were representatives of the fisheries authorities (national executing partners) from the seven project countries, five regional executing partner organizations (CANARI, CERMES-UWI, CNFO, CRFM, WECAFC), fisherfolk leaders from national fisherfolk organizations/lead primary fisherfolk organizations in the project countries as well as representatives from other fisheries-related national and regional agencies. The overall objective of the workshop was to bring together key partners and stakeholders who would be involved in the delivery of the project to ensure that there was a common understanding of the project objectives, components, outcomes, outputs and planned activities as well as the roles and responsibilities of all partners. Achievements of the workshop included (i) review and agreement on the project institutional and implementation arrangements; (ii) review and agreement on the project components, outcomes, outputs and planned activities and the results matrix; (iii) review and adjustments to country work plans; (iv) mapping out of the LOAs; and (iv) review and agreement on the monitoring and evaluation mechanism.

The Third Third Annual Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GEG/FAO Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector Project (CC4FISH) was held at UN House, Bridgetown, Barbados, 16–17 April 2019. The meeting brought together 24 representatives from the project countries, partner organizations and other key stakeholders involved in the delivery of the project to highlight the progress made to date by each partner. Project countries and partners presented a review of their activities carried out during 2018 and their annual workplans and budgets for 2019. The discussions included the need and road to ensure a timely delivery of the project outcomes. In addition there were discussions on lessons learned and opportunities for further development of the project to ensure increased resilience and reduction of vulnerability to climate change impacts in the Eastern Caribbean fisheries sector. The main topics discussed during the workshop included capacity building, sargassum impacts, aquaculture development, fisheries management plans, vulnerability assessments and communication.

The workshop presented the project's activities and objectives, covering themes ranging from fishers' insurance policies to fish waste management practices.

TheToolkit for vulnerability and capacity assessments in Caribbean coastal and fishing communities is aimed at national fisheries authorities and other related government agencies, civil society organizations, including fisherfolk organizations, and other technical partners looking for practical tools that can be applied at the local level to inform climate change adaptation planning and action. This document represents a sub-set of the web-based version.