BELIZE CITY, BELIZE

The Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) is a relatively new technology in the region which allows fishers to capture more fish with less effort, but in order to reduce the risk of overfishing, sound monitoring and management measures must be put in place.

This is why the Secretariat of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have collaborated to organize the CRFM/JICA FAD Fishery Management Workshop for OECS Countries, due to be held on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 in Dominica.

The CRFM/JICA Workshop on FAD Fishery Management will build on work completed under the FAD pilot component of the CARICOM/CRFM/JICA Project: Study on Formulation of a Master Plan on the Sustainable Use of Fisheries Resources for Coastal Community Development in the Caribbean, which commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2012.

The CRFM/JICA FAD Fishery Management Workshop will review and share research results and best practices in the construction, use and management of FADs as tools for sustainable development, management and conservation of large pelagic resources in the region.

Officers in charge of FAD fisheries management in the 6 of the OECS countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines; officers of regional and international organizations/institutions involved in FAD fisheries management activities; and Okinawa Environment Club representatives of Japan are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting.

The full reports are available at www.caricom-fisheries.com.