PRESS RELEASE: Technical experts discuss updated plan for Eastern Caribbean flyingfish fishery

The state of the Eastern Caribbean flyingfish and the updated sub-regional flyingfish Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for this valuable and shared resource were discussed at the Special Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Flyingfish in the Eastern Caribbean, convened in Barbados on 1-2 October, 2018. This Working Group, which is constituted by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), plays an important role in monitoring, evaluating and advising on the implementation of the sub-regional flyingfish FMP, which is supported by an ecosystem approach to management of flyingfish sub-project under the UNDP/GEF Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) Project. The Working Group will also contribute to the regional state of the marine environment and associated economies report as well as to monitoring and evaluation of the CLME+ Strategic Action Programme.

Attending the meeting were Chief Fisheries Officers, as well as representatives of fisherfolk organizations, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission, and development partners such as FAO-WECAFC, the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), and the French Marine Research Agency – IFREMER.

“This meeting of the Joint CRFM/WECAFC Working Group on Flyingfish is timely and important given the challenges we face in the region from climate related changes affecting the marine environment and flyingfish stocks, and ultimately the livelihoods and food security of thousands of persons engaged along the entire flyingfish value chain,” said Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the CRFM.

The entire Press Release can be found in the attached document and on the CRFM Secretariat’s website at www.crfm.int.

Civil society sets priorities to support management of shared marine resources in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems

Participants from the regional workshop to develop the CLME+ Civil Society Action Programme (C-SAP)
Participants from the regional workshop to develop the CLME+ Civil Society Action Programme (C-SAP)

Port of Spain, February 27, 2018 – Representatives of 18 civil society organisations (CSOs) and small and micro enterprises (SMEs) from 14 countries within the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems region (CLME+ region) met in Trinidad and Tobago, from January 16 – 19, to develop a Civil Society Action Programme (C-SAP), that would contribute to strengthening the role, participation and ownership of civil society actors in the implementation of the politically endorsed 10-year Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources in the CLME+ region (CLME+ SAP). The vision of the CLME+ SAP is “a healthy marine environment in the CLME+ that provides benefits and livelihoods for the well-being of the people of the region”.

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UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project launches consultancy to identify options for a Permanent Policy Coordination Mechanism and a Sustainable Financing Plan for ocean governance in the CLME+ Region

In November 2017, the UNDP/GEF Project “Catalysing the Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of Shared Living Marine Resources in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems” (http://www.clmeproject.org) awarded a consultancy to identify Options for a regional Permanent Policy Coordination Mechanism and a strengthened Regional Governance Framework for shared living marine resources and ocean governance in the CLME+ Region, with a Sustainable Financing Plan. The mandate for this consultancy arises from the CLME+ Strategic Action Programme, which was politically endorsed by over 30 government ministers representing 25 countries and 6 overseas territories in the CLME+ region. Leading the consultancy is the Centre of Partnerships for Development, based in Barcelona, Spain (https://globalcad.org/en), with the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies as the advisory group. The consultants will work closely with the countries that have endorsed the CLME+ Strategic Action Programme (CLME+ Countries), multiple Inter-Governmental Organisations, and other stakeholders in the region. Continue reading “UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project launches consultancy to identify options for a Permanent Policy Coordination Mechanism and a Sustainable Financing Plan for ocean governance in the CLME+ Region”

World Oceans Day 2017 – “Our Oceans, Our Future”

Puntarenas, Costa Rica. 8 to 9 June 2017 – Hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica and UN Environment

The CLME+ Project Coordination Unit and several of the CLME+ Project Partners participated in the Global Dialogue on Oceans, an event that raised awareness of the threats facing the oceans and affirmed commitments to reduce pollution and achieve SDG 14 on the sustainable use of the ocean.

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CLME+ Initiatives Highlighted at the UN Ocean Conference

The 10-year Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the CLME+ region, the 5 year UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project and the forthcoming establishment of a global “CLME+ Alliance & Partnership” for the sustainable management, use and protection of marine resources” were among the different CLME+ initiatives highlighted by the Project Coordination Unit (PCU) and Project Partners at the recently concluded UN Ocean Conference in New York (5-9 June 2017).

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70th Annual Conference GCFI: Call for Papers

GCFI Press Release

June 6, 2017 – The 70th Annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute will be held in Merida, Mexico, from 6-10 November 2017 at the Hyatt Regency Merida Hotel. The conference is being hosted by the CINVESTAV, Unidad Merida, Instituto Technologico de Merida and Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. Continue reading “70th Annual Conference GCFI: Call for Papers”

ECOLANGOSTA+ Regional workshop for the traceability of fishery products

June 6, 2017 – In San Salvador, El Salvador, from June 5 to 8, 2017, the Regional Workshop for the Elaboration of the Regional Standard of Traceability of Fishery Products is carried out, with the aim of harmonize and agree the procedures and design of a Regional Traceability Standard applied to fishery products to be subsequently submitted to the competent authorities for its approval and implementation.
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Towards an Integrated Reporting Mechanism for the CLME+ SAP

March 27, 2017 – The Global Environment Facility (GEF), through its International Waters (IW) Focal Area, financially supports the adoption of the “Large Marine Ecosystem approach” for the collaborative, transboundary management of shared marine resources. In this context, the GEF and UNDP foster the adoption of a cyclical approach of joint (a) Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and (b) Strategic Planning. Continue reading “Towards an Integrated Reporting Mechanism for the CLME+ SAP”