Regional reps convene in Dominica for conclusion of COASTFISH Project

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Fisheries Division, announced that it will host a regional seminar to mark the conclusion of the COASTFISH Project, a program funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The event is scheduled to take place at the Fort Young Hotel from June 3 to June 4, 2025. Participants will include representatives from six OECS member states—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—as well as members of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).

According to an official press release from the agriculture ministry, the seminar will offer member states a platform to present the results of their pilot activities, share best practices, and discuss lessons learned during the project’s implementation from 2020 to 2025. The primary goal of the COASTFISH Project is to develop a sustainable co-management framework for coastal fisheries through pilot initiatives that can be adapted and expanded across the CARICOM region.

Throughout the project, participating countries carried out various activities, including the installation of artificial reefs, the introduction of biodegradable panels for fish pots, sea moss cultivation, conch surveys, coral gardening, fisheries facility management, fish processing, and gender mainstreaming efforts. These activities aimed to foster sustainable marine resource management in collaboration with fishers and relevant authorities.

During the seminar, nations will share insights into their experiences, highlight challenges encountered, and discuss strategies for scaling up the co-management approaches regionally, as outlined in the official press release.