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Common Fisheries Policy could be ready by February 2010

May 14, 2009 News

The Caribbean Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) could be finalized and ready to sign into effect by February next year if an ambitious road map set out Tuesday at the First Special Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) is adhered to by its Member States.
This was revealed by the Chairman of the Ministerial Council, Montgomery Daniel, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in St Vincent and the Grenadines, at a Press briefing held at the close of the meeting in the new National Insurance Service building in Kingstown.
The preparation of a Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was mandated by the CARICOM Heads of Government in February 2003, to improve the contribution of fisheries to the Region’s economic development as well as conservation and management of the fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
In outlining a “Way Forward” set by the CARICOM Ministers responsible for fisheries, Minister Daniel said that by yesterday the revised draft of the CFP agreed to in Tuesday’s meeting would be circulated to all CRFM Member States and the CARICOM Secretariat to gain feedback on or before June 12, 2009. He added that a status report on what progress had been achieved since January in the development of the CFP would be tabled at the 27th Meeting of the Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED) being held here tomorrow.
Minister Daniel also disclosed a “Road Map” to pave the way for the development of a Common Fisheries Regime once the Policy was finalized and agreed upon.
The regime would contain detailed rules and arrangements for implementing the common policy.
This road map, as set out at Tuesday’s meeting, would provide for research activities on shared fisheries stocks; cooperation on monitoring control and surveillance (MCS); harmonisation of legislation related to fisheries among member states; and the drafting of protocols for the eventual establishment of a common fisheries zone; access to common fisheries resources; and the establishment of a regional fisheries management authority.
He added that between May 15 and June 19, 2009 Member States are expected to ensure that national fisheries stakeholders have the opportunity to discuss the revised draft and road map and formulate national positions which would inform cabinet papers and also serve as briefing material for Prime Ministers and other Heads of State and Government attending the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Governments Meeting in early July.
The annual meeting of the CRFM Caribbean Fisheries Forum is scheduled for the end of July in Saint Lucia and Minister Daniel said reactions by the CARICOM Heads of Government would be discussed at that meeting.
He then said that when the CRFM Ministerial Council next meet in October 2009, proposals coming out of the Forum would be discussed and a final Caribbean Common Fisheries Policy Agreement could be further refined to ensure that it could be tabled for approval at the Inter-sessional Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government which is normally held in February/March each year.
Minister Daniel expressed regret that due to the economic constraints CARICOM countries were currently facing, more ministers could not attend Tuesday’s meeting and a fuller discussion on the subject matters under consideration could not be had.
However, he expressed pleasure that the Member States who made themselves available to attend the meeting at relatively short notice were nevertheless able to make good progress in resolving the issues under consideration and moving closer towards agreement on a CFP. In closing, he urged the body to continue at the pace that had been set since January and not lose momentum as they moved forward toward the finalisation of this important policy document.
The CRFM is an agency of CARICOM established in 2003 with responsibility for the sustainable development and conservation of fisheries resources across the region. All CARICOM countries, and Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands, are participating members of the CRFM.

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