FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture - Regional fishery bodies (RFB)

Regional Fishery Bodies Summary Descriptions

Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)

Mission
Area of competence
Organizations involved
Species and stocks coverage
Languages
Structure
Legal framework
Activities and Meetings
Publications
Contacts

MissionObjectives The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) was established in 2002 by the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as a regional fishery body serving the Caribbean region. The overall objective of the CRFM is “to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region's fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region”. Functions The objectives of the CRFM, as stated in the 2002 Agreement establishing the organization, are:

the efficient management and sustainable development of marine and other aquatic resources within the jurisdictions of member states;
the promotion and establishment of cooperative arrangements among interested states for the efficient management of shared, straddling or highly migratory marine and other aquatic resources;
the provision of technical advisory and consultative services to fisheries divisions of member states in the development, management and conservation of their marine and other aquatic resources.

Area of competence Internal waters, territorial seas and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of member states.

CRFM area of competence - National waters, Inland waters

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Organizations involved

Member: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent/Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Is..

Membership contribution
The CRFM is financed through Member States annual contributions and donor funding for specific projects. Species and stocks coverage All fisheries resources. LanguagesEnglish. StructureThe Ministerial Council The Ministerial Council (ministers responsible for fisheries) has responsibility for,inter alia, policies, resource allocation, cooperative agreements and related decision-making. The Caribbean Fisheries Forum The Caribbean Fisheries Forum (heads of national fisheries administrations) provides technical leadership to the CRFM, including the provision of scientific advice to the Ministerial Council, and oversight to the operations of the CRFM Secretariat. Secretariat The CRFM Secretariat is the technical unit responsible for: day-to-day coordination and execution of the work programmes; collaborating with national fisheries authorities; mobilizing resources; and managing the institutional networking to promote its optimal involvement and efficient functioning. The headquarters is located in Belize City, Belize, and there is a second office located in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The CRFM is a member of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats Network, which meets biennially. Legal framework The CRFM was officially inaugurated on 27 March 2003, in Belize City, Belize, following the signing of the Agreement Establishing the CRFM on 4 February, 2002. The CRFM was registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations on 3 February, 2004. Activities and Meetings
The CRFM Strategic Plan identifies 9 priority programmes that are to be addressed through medium-term plans. The 9 programme areas and the projects associated to be addressed in the CRFM medium-term plan are as follows:

Research and Data Analysis for Policy Formulation and Decision Making;
Preparation for Global Competitiveness;
Resource Assessment and Management;
Human Resource Development and Institutional Strengthening;
Strengthening of Fishers Organizations and Improved Community Participation;
Promotion of Expansion and Utilization of Un-utilized and Under-Utilized Aquatic Resources;
Development and Promotion of Aquaculture;
Development and Promotion of Risk Reduction Programmes for Fishers;
Development and Promotion of Programmes for Conflict Resolution at the National and Regional Levels.