The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)—which will be hosting its 20th Anniversary Showcase at the upcoming Caribbean Week of Agriculture—is very pleased to partner with the CARICOM Secretariat and other regional and international development partners in celebrating CWA 2023. The theme for the 17th Caribbean Week of Agriculture—Accelerating Vision 25 by 2025—is timely, progressive, and visionary. It underpins the decisive actions which are being taken by the CRFM—an intergovernmental organization of CARICOM—to promote and invest in blue economic growth and development in the post-pandemic reconstruction of the Caribbean, to improve economic, social and environmental resilience; and to promote food security and nutrition, decent work, and the eradication of poverty in our region.

Fish and other aquatic foods (derived from marine and inland capture, and aquaculture) are important components of the Caribbean diet with per capita consumption above the global average. Despite efforts to increase production, the region is still a major importer of the commonly consumed fish and other aquatic foods. The CRFM recognizes that the mandate issued by the CARICOM Heads of Government at their Thirty-third Inter-sessional Conference held in 2022—to improve food security and reduce the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025—is urgent, and it is with a resolute mindset that the CRFM Ministerial Council, at its 17th Meeting held in April 2023, approved the Protocol to the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy on Aquatic Foods as a Strategic Resource for Food and Nutrition Security.

The CRFM Council also approved three resolutions aimed at bolstering the region’s food security, while driving down the food import bill, which is nearing US$5 billion. These resolutions focus on (i) the Regional Protocol on Aquatic Foods as a Strategic Resource for Food and Nutrition Security; (ii) Addressing the Constraints of Fisheries and Aquaculture as Priority Commodities to Achieving 25/25; (iii) and blue economic growth through sustainable seafood value chain development. Over the past year, the CRFM also worked with regional fisherfolk through the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations to develop an action plan to increase sustainable production of fish and other aquatic foods and to work towards the CARICOM food production goal.

At CWA 2023, the CRFM will advance these initiatives with an intensified focus on the sustainable use of marine living resources. A new Regional Protocol Under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy on the Principle of Sustainable Use of Marine Living Resources for Blue Economic Growth and Sustainable Development of CRFM Member States will be considered by policy-makers during CWA 2023. The CRFM will also convene a series of open hybrid seminars on the Sustainable Use of Living Marine Resources, the Use of Sargassum for Value Chain Development, Strengthening Transportation and Logistics, and Enhancing Blue Economic Growth in the Caribbean.

The CRFM looks forward to strengthened partnerships and to building synergies as we work collectively towards our shared goal—Accelerating Vision 25 by 2025!