(PRESS RELEASE) – The Signing Ceremony for “The Project for Strengthening Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Fisheries Resource in CARICOM Countries” between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Saint Lucia, was held at 11:30 am on Friday, 17 January 2020 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives.
The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the sustainable use of coastal resources and management through the use of the co-management approach which was developed in the Caribbean Fisheries Co-Management Project (CARIFICO: 2013-2018). Fisheries co-management is a flexible process wherein government and resource users share the responsibility and authority for management of aquatic resources.
Today co-management is recognised as an effective approach for the sustainable management of small-scale fishery, which is the mode most prevalent in Caribbean countries. The project will make use of the Japanese coastal management experiences to increase biodiversity and productivity through human interaction.
The Project will be implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and will comprise of a series of pilot activities which will be further disseminated across the target countries and throughout the wider Caribbean Region. In the case of Saint Lucia, the pilot site will be from Anse la Raye to Soufriere, and Laborie, and will include targeted activities for the regeneration of coral reef habitats and more effective management of coastal resources.
Mr. Tsutomu Kobayashi, Chief Representative for JICA Saint Lucia Office, expressed his hope that the project would improve the livelihoods of the fisher folk in the project areas and by extension strengthen the capacity of the fisheries sector in Saint Lucia.
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Mr. Barrymore Felicien highlighted longstanding and tremendously beneficial partnership between Japan and Saint Lucia, especially in the Fisheries sector.
Mr. Kobayashi, signed the project document on behalf of JICA, and Mr. Felicien, signed on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives.
Also in attendance to witness the signing agreement were Ministry officials including: Ms. Souraya Niles-Regis, Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Mr. Thomas Nelson – Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer.
JICA welcomes further opportunities to work with the Government of Saint Lucia in strengthening the bonds of friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
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