Opportunities for aquaculture development in the Caribbean ACP States

1. Brussels Development Briefing n.32Fish-farming the new driver of the blue economy?3rd July 2013http://brusselsbriefings.netOpportunities for aquaculture development in the Caribbean ACP states. Milton Haughton, CRFM

2. Opportunities for aquaculture development in the CaribbeanACP States Milton Haughton Executive Director CRFM Secretariat Belize

3. Source: CLME project doc

4. Background • CARIFORUM Countries = SIDs • Reliance on aquatic resources for livelihood and food security • Threats – climate change, marine pollution, habitat degradation, over-fishing, • High unemployment (14-15%) • High Food import bill • Strategic location between major international markets

6. Fisheries Strategically Important • Employment: up to 182,000 • Total Fish Production 176,213 MT • Aquaculture production – 11,000 MT • Exports: 61,000 MT (~US$250 million) • Imports: 117,000 MT (~ US$343 million) • Livelihood Opportunities • poor, • vulnerable • Food and nutrition security

7. Fish Imports (MT) • Overall Food Import bill CARIFORUM States: • US$ 4.75 billion/yr • Can aquaculture help?

8. Guyana PROCESSING- Subsector Employment opportunity for women Belize Photo – Courtesy Fisheries Dept, Belize

9. Shrimp farm in Belize Aquaculture has the potential to make greater contribution to economic & social development if appropriate policy frameworks and incentives are provided Gov Jamaica - Aquaculture Research Station Tilapia Belize Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Dept. Belize

10. Current State of Aquaculture Development • Not well developed - Low production • 14,146 MT per year from 2000 -2010 • Belize and Jamaica exception • Production peaked at 18,879 MT in 2004 • Declined since 2007 to < 10,000 MT • Recent trend – economic downturn Sea moss commodities produced in Antigua. Photo – Courtesy Fisheries Div. Antigua & Barbuda

11. Aquaculture ProductionCARIFORUM States 2000-2011 (MT) Source: FAO database

12. Aquaculture Production Per Country MT (2000-2011)

13. Main Producers – MT (2009)

14. What are the Main Species?

15. Seaweed farming Antigua: Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Div. Antigua Cobia farming Belize: Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Dept. Belize Aquarium Fish farming Jamaica Tilapia Belize

16. What about smaller Islands? • Current activities – tilapia, seaweed, shrimp • Limitations – land, fresh water, human • Outlook Cobia farming in seawater Photo: Fisheries Dept, Belize Seaweed farming in St. Lucia Tilapia farming in seawater – St. Kitts

17. What are the Main Constraints? • High input cost (energy, feed, land …) • High cost of credit • Seed supply • Competition from imports from Asia & S. America • Health and Food Safety Systems • R & D, Extension & Support Services • Lack of Skilled &Quality Human Resources • Natural disaster – storms & hurricanes • Water management systems • Policy and legislation

18. Are States still Interested? • Contribute to economic development • Create employment opportunities throughout the value chain • Increase local supply of fish • Improve food & nutrition security • Poverty reduction • Revitalize coastal & rural communities • Diversify economy & build resilience • Earn hard currency - export-oriented

19. Where do we go from here:Regional Policy Framework • Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas - CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME): • Entered in force 1 Jan 2006 • Enlarged market among member states • Opportunities to produce & sell goods & services & attract investment Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Dept. Belize

20. Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy • Treaty - Endorsed 2011 • Key Provisions • Objective & Scope “sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture” . ..“production, processing, marketing and trading of fishery and aquaculture products” • Several substantive provisions aquaculture • Art. 10 Sector Development • Joint venture, capacity development, • improving the business, financial and insurance environment

21. CRFM Strategic Plan 2013 -2021 Objective D: Development of Aquaculture • Note lack of growth past 10 years & agree to intensify efforts to expand production • A strategy to increase supply of fish • Adopt Ecosystem approach to aquaculture • Establish Regional Working Group • Enabling policy and legal frameworks • Voluntary guidelines, best management practices and standards

22. National Policy – ACP Fish II • CAR-3.1-B12: Strategic assessment of the aquaculture potential in Haiti • CAR-1.4-B4a: aquaculture land and water use development plan for Jamaica • CAR-1.4-B4b: Aquaculture development strategy for St. Kitts and Nevis • Fisheries and aquaculture policy Dominica Grenada, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines • Support to formulate a fisheries and aquaculture policy for the Dominican Republic

23. Recent Donor Supported Initiatives • ACP Fish II Programme – Component 1 – policy and legislation • JICA Master Plan for Coastal Resource Management • USAID, and FAO Support to Guyana • Tiawanese support to St.Lucia, Dominica and Belize

24. CONCLUSION • Significant opportunities in the Caribbean • Growing interest in aquaculture • Important role in food security, poverty reduction, employment, & blue economy • Realistic dialogue – recognize: • Needs, opportunities, limitations • Dangers of unregulated, poorly planned • Need for R&D, capacity development, strategic partnerships & funding support

25. Thank you!!