-to finalise Common Fisheries Policy
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) yesterday commenced a three-day Multi-Disciplinary Workshop which is expected to be the final technical conference to negotiate the framework agreement establishing the CARICOM Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. Delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said that while the commitment to finalise the policy document is commendable, the process must be done through a comprehensive and all-inclusive participation of every member state that should not be pursued with undue haste.
“We must take into consideration that we are trying to formulate a common fisheries policy within an area where the Caribbean Sea is not only shared by CARICOM member states, but by other countries outside of our regional body as well,” the Agriculture Minister said.
In 2003, CARICOM Heads of Government reviewed the situation regarding fisheries and mandated the preparation of a CFP to facilitate closer cooperation among member states.            
In this regard, the Secretariats of CARICOM, along with the CRFM, have been coordinating the preparation of the policy through a consultative process involving a series of studies, public consultations among stakeholders including fishermen, and regional meetings involving officials of member states and regional experts in fisheries, marine law and policy.
Minister Persaud noted that the final policy must be one that will be able to satisfy all member states that would be affected, a task that requires tremendous effort and constant engagements.
The CFP has undergone significant transformation since its first draft, when it was called a Common Fisheries Policy and Regime. This, Minister Persaud said, speaks well of the process thus far, to garner inputs and respond to differing perspectives.
Moreover, several technical reports have been produced from various consultations, regional working groups, and formal meetings which guided the content and scope of the policy document.
It has been presented and discussed at high-level forums such as the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the CRFM Ministerial Council,which comprises Ministers responsible for fisheries.  
Minister Persaud said , “We have utilised the principles from appropriate documents such as the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.”
He said however, there is much more work to be done and he reminded that, as a community, CARICOM member states have developed several common policies that are yet to be implemented.
“We must ensure that this document is one which is not only practical to our needs, but will be implemented in a timely manner. What we produce must not be more paper and documents for our shelves, but a policy that our fisher folks can relate to and benefit from,” the Agriculture Minister said.  
He urged the participants, which comprise representatives from various government departments including, fisheries, foreign affairs and legal affairs, as well as regional organizations such as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat, the University of the West Indies (UWI), and the recently established Caribbean Network of Fisher-folk Organizations, to bear in mind the common goal of creating new opportunities for economic growth and enhancing security for populations who depend on the region’s aquatic resources for their livelihoods.
CARICOM Secretary General (ag), Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite’ said that the policy will:
?        afford the opportunity for structured collaboration in the conservation, management and use of living marine and aquatic resources
?        allow for an orderly and predictable approach to the terms for entry by third states in the Common Fisheries Zone
?        present to CARICOM member states the opportunity to establish sub-regional arrangements for the management of fishing stocks of interest to them, and which are not now subject to any management regime
?        enhance considerably the opportunities for social and economic benefits
?        provide a framework within which the economic interests and welfare of fisher-folk and fishing communities can be promoted and supported through coordinated policy interventions
?        and enable the participating states to speak in international forum with a unified voice to greater benefit on matters relating to fisheries in the region.

CRFM Director General, Hugh Saul, reminded that fish resources play an important role in the region’s nutrition level as well as food security. He posited that the fisheries sector has the potential to answer some of the region’s economic problems.              
The project is funded by the Ninth European Development Fund (EDF) Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Fish II programme, which is aimed at strengthening fisheries management, thus leading to poverty alleviation and food security improvement.
It is envisaged that the policy will be the region’s main instrument for transforming the fisheries sector and bringing it into the mainstream of social and economic development. (GINA)