Mounting Challenges to Caribbean Fisheries

There are mixed official and industry messages in a selection of Caribbean countries, but CIJN investigations have unearthed, at minimum, signs that the regional fisheries sector is currently confronting a variety of potentially disastrous challenges – both natural and human.

Over recent months, our team – comprising correspondents in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago – has scanned the regional seascape in search of data-supported evidence of a growing claim of perilous times ahead for the industry.

In most instances, there has been a notable absence of available indigenous, official, statistics and an apparent unwillingness by authorities to publicly engage negative speculation regarding the fate of the fisheries sector.

There have also been mixed verdicts from key stakeholders including fisherfolk and others involved in the value chain.

There however appears to be unanimity on the main challenges, whatever their perceived current and future impacts.

Climate change and its impact on ocean temperatures with all its related effects, unregulated fishing and fishing practices, cross-border incursions by unauthorised foreign parties, underdeveloped infrastructure and institutional support, intense weather events, and irregular breeding cycles involving different species are all cited as being among the more notable issues being faced.

This CIJN report attempts to provide a snapshot of current realities with recommendations by experts and practitioners.