The Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy CARIBBEAN FISHERIES

The Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy CARIBBEAN FISHERIES Milton Haughton Executive Director

Presentation Overview l l l l CCCFP history The policy Wealth creation Food and good nutrition security Preserve the resource, protect livelihoods What’s in CCCFP for fisherfolk? Shared responsibility CCCFP status

CCCFP History Policy Development l l l 2003 Heads of Government mandate Then, studies, reviews, missions abroad, regional workshops, national consultations Working groups l l l Legal Socio-economic Multidisciplinary CRFM Forum and Ministerial Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) Legal Affairs Committee (LAC)

Common Fisheries Policy ● ● ● Initiates closer cooperation, integration and consistency in fisheries policy among countries Builds States’ capabilities to conduct research, collect and analyse data Encourages new business opportunities; generating more trade, improved incomes and higher profits through diversification Stronger commitment to conservation, protection and sustainable use of living resources to safeguard fisherfolk livelihoods Uses key international principles of sustainable fisheries, particularly the precautionary and the ecosystem approaches

Common Fisheries Policy l Enhance development of fisheries and aquaculture to improve the welfare and socio-economic conditions of fishers and communities l Participatory approach, considering the rights and special needs of traditional, subsistence, artisanal and small-scale fishers l Good governance, accountability and transparency, including equitable allocation of rights, obligations, responsibilities and benefits l Subsidiarity, in particular that the Competent Agency will only perform those tasks which cannot be more effectively achieved by individual States.

CCCFP and Wealth Creation Times are tough l Fishery sector is an area of Caribbean economies with room for economic growth through diversification, innovation and cooperation l Need to improve livelihoods and welfare of fishers l Need more fisheries-generated employment and income in our economies l Foreign exchange from the commercial fishing industry helps counteract the perennial regional trade deficit l Improved performance of the sector can help us rise above difficulty

CCCFP and Wealth Creation CCCFP supports l Market research and market access gains l Marketing and sector trade development l Pursuit of under- or unexploited species l Increase in fish processing to add value, capture more profit, create more jobs in the region l More aquaculture business ventures

Food and Nutrition Security l Fisheries provide a healthy share of our good nutrition and food security; a safety net in difficult times l Small-scale fishers have a key role, creating jobs and supplying food across the region l Need a structured, balanced approach, avoiding stock depletion while assuring consistent supply to Caribbean markets

Food and Nutrition Security CCCFP: l Harmonises sustainable fisheries management and post-harvest practices l Promotes competitive trade and stable market conditions l Improves quality assurance and seafood safety standards l Requires participating nations to establish protocols for sanitary and phytosanitary measures so that the seafood we consume is not only good for us, but is also of high quality.

Protect the resource Preserve livelihoods CCCFP Vision l “. . . effective cooperation and collaboration in the conservation, management and sustainable utilisation and development of the fisheries and related ecosystems in the region to secure the maximum benefits for the peoples. . . ” l Promote recognition of the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area of sustainable development, so that the level of fishing effort does not exceed the level of sustainable use. l Transform the sector: more market-oriented, internationally competitive and environmentally sustainable

Protect the resource Preserve livelihoods The CCCFP aims to: • Prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing • Strengthen, upgrade, harmonise and modernise regional fisheries legislation, foster better cooperation, enforcement and information sharing • Integrate environmental, coastal and marine management consideration into fisheries policies • Protect and conserve fish stocks and related ecosystems from degradation due to pollution, climate change or natural disasters.

What’s in it for fisherfolk? l Greater involvement in planning and decision making, as exhibited throughout the CCCFP drafting process l Improved image and perception of the fisheries sector to give it higher priority in national development and funding l Use the best available information in decision-making, taking into consideration traditional fisherfolk knowledge l Better regulations, enforcement and licensing to help preserve fisher livelihoods

What’s in it for fisherfolk? l Opportunities for businesses to grow regionally by expanding the product range l Improved marketing opportunities and market access for fish l Expanded market research and scientific studies to help fishers meet ongoing challenges Needed: innovation and cooperation

Shared resource Shared responsibility l Caribbean people are all interconnected l Fishing is woven throughout our societies l We all benefit in one way or another from our fisheries jobs, food and recreation l CCCFP comes from a participatory approach to regional cooperation l Fisheries resource management and protection is for all people in the Caribbean l Save the resource today for tomorrow’s generation and others to come

CCCFP Status Where we are today: l Policy is approved by and supported at all levels of CARICOM governments The final step: l l Signature by CARICOM Heads of State Only 8 signatures needed to enter the policy into force