May_BVC

16 17 OPENING LINES A t its recent annual meeting in Mont- serrat, the Caribbean Fisheries Forum framed a set of recommendations that will be submitted to regional policy- makers at the 12th meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), slated for May 18, 2018, in Montserrat. The Forum’s recommendations include mea- sures for boosting production in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, risk insurance for fish- eries, ongoing challenges to fisheries subsidies, gender mainstreaming, and the development of critical fishery management plans. The Forum noted that the overall trend in total marine fish production of the CRFM member states since 2005 is one of increasing production, with continued improvements over the 2015-2016 period. However, the region is a net importer of fisheries products. Latest data indicate that imports for the year 2016 totaled US$281.5 million, while exports were valued at US$256.2 million. Concerns were expressed that there are still gaps in the data and the Forum stressed the need for member states to continue improving CARIBBEAN FISHERIES FORUM CALLS REGION TO ACTION upon the collection and sharing of fisheries data, including trade data, in order to fos- ter greater understanding and to strengthen management and development of the region’s fisheries and aquaculture resources. The Forum meeting discussed a series of fish- eries management plans, such as plans for the black fin tuna and the Caribbean billfish, as well as management plans for the use of fish aggre- gating devices (FADs). These regional plans are aimed at improving cooperation among coun- tries to ensure effective conservation, manage- ment and sustainable use of the fisheries and to protect the marine ecosystems. Another important regional development relates to the introduction of co-management arrangements for specific fisheries, includ- ing FADs and fish pot fisheries in the Eastern Caribbean states that participated in the Jap- anese-funded Caribbean fisheries co-manage- ment (CARIFICO) project. The Forum reviewed the outcome of the project and future steps for continued improvements on co-management and participatory approaches to achieve sus- tainable and profitable fisheries in the region. The importance of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management plans to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience in the fisheries sector was prominent on the agenda. Among the key initiatives currently underway are the establishment of an early warning system for fishers using a mobile app, and the