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In its efforts at increasing the awareness and understanding of climate change impacts and vulnerability of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) - through its Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector (CC4FISH) Project in Trinidad and Tobago - donated sargassum beach clean-up equipment to the Moruga-Basse Terre Women's Group on Friday 4th December, 2020. This component of the CC4FISH-TT Project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) and the Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries (Tobago House of Assembly), witnessed the handover of items which included hay forks, wheelbarrows, rubbber boots and shovels.

As one of six vulnerable coastal and fishing communities across Trinidad and Tobago, Moruga was selected by CC4FISH-TT Project Partner - Caribbean Natural Resource Institute (CANARI) - to undergo a vulnerability and capacity assessment. Pursuant to same, CANARI hosted a community workshop earlier this year where one of the participating entities, the Moruga-Basse Terre Wormen’s Group, requested the assistance of the CC4FISH-TT Project in the purchase of equipment to aid in beach clean-up activities particularly as it relates to sargassum seaweed which is both a threat due to exposure (quantity, location) and sensitivity (biodiversity and human health). As moderate sargassum strandings on beaches in the Moruga community can be removed by means of manual clean up activities, the donated equipment (aforementioned), will greatly assist the Women’s Group in building its capacity to deal with minor influxes and promote collective action, resilience, and adaptive capacity to respond to this threat.

Attending the official handover ceremony last Friday at the Basse-Terre Community Centre in Moruga, were the FAO CC4FISH-TT's National Project Coordinator, Mr. Kerton Jobe, the Project's National Focal Point / Fisheries Officer (MALF), Mr. Recardo Mieux and representative of the Moruga-Basse Terre Women's Group, Ms. Gisselle Lewis.

The objective of the CC4FISH Project is to increase resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector, through the introduction of adaptation measures in fisheries management and capacity building of fisherfolk and aquaculturists. This project aims to create better understanding and awareness of climate change vulnerability, create resilience of fisherfolk, fisherfolk organizations and aquaculturists, and improve governance by mainstreaming climate change adaptation in multi-level fisheries governance.