BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s chief fisheries officer, Ian Horsford, has been elected to chair the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, replacing Remone Johnson of the Turks and Caicos Islands for the next year.
The Forum, which provides technical guidance to the Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), met here last week reviewing the CRFM’s Seventh Biennial Work Plan (2026-2027), which sets the framework for the regional fisheries body to advance the development of fisheries and aquaculture across the region.
“In these times of geopolitical uncertainty, CRFM, through its various organs such as the Forum, remains a shining example of what can be achieved through multilateralism as we chart the way forward for the sustainable development of Caribbean fisheries and blue economy,” Horsford said.
CRFM executive director, Dr. Marc Williams, said the Caribbean Fisheries Forum provides the CRFM with a platform to discuss fish stocks, the blue economy, marine ecosystems, and fishing activities.
“Given the proximity of the member states in the Caribbean and the transboundary nature of the fish stocks, cooperation is essential for the sustainable management of these stocks,” he said, adding “the Forum meeting provided a platform for the member states to share data, examine common challenges such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, habitat degradation, and overfishing, and coordinate policies that protect resources while supporting livelihoods.
“Additionally, it reinforces partnerships among governments, fisherfolk organizations, researchers, and other nongovernmental organizations to foster trust, harmonize plans, improve enforcement, and attract funding for joint projects that benefit the CRFM member states.”
A CRFM statement said that the two-day meeting last week addressed the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture, as well as cross-cutting dimensions related to climate change, adaptation, and innovation, including the strategic adoption of renewable energy options within seafood value chains.
It said the Forum’s deliberations also encompass initiatives to combat IUU fishing and fisheries crime, as well as gender mainstreaming in fisheries.
Furthermore, the Forum is providing technical guidance on two new protocols under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP): a protocol on marine spatial planning and another on aquatic food traceability, which involves tracking seafood across the value chain.
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