BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — The ministerial council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has approved the CRFM’s new environmental and social safeguard policy which will be a guiding framework to manage environmental and social risks and ensure compliance with relevant national, regional and international safeguard principles and standards.

The council also approved the CRFM strategy for mainstreaming biodiversity into regional fisheries management, adding that the document signals the commitment of the 17 CRFM member states to ensure that marine biodiversity and environmental protection are integrated into fisheries management.

During the council meeting, Kyle Hodge, Anguilla’s minister of economic development, industry, commerce, lands, planning, water, and natural resources, was elected chair, taking over from the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“We have very important work to do over the next year, as we continue to chart the way forward for this regional authority for fisheries and aquaculture across the Caribbean Community (Caricom),” Hodge said.

“As ministers responsible for fisheries, we will forge resolutely ahead with promoting the efficient management, conservation and development of the region’s living marine resources; developing and maintaining relations with national, sub-regional, regional, and international partners that share our vision and mission for sustainable Caribbean fisheries.”

He informed the CRFM 19th Regular Meeting that there is also a need to support actions aimed at ensuring safe, healthy and fair working and living conditions for over half a million fishers, fish workers, and others employed across the region’s fisheries and aquaculture value chains.

The council, which comprises ministers responsible for fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, discussed fish trade, fisheries-related crimes and a new environmental and social safeguard policy.

The CRFM said that the fisheries sector lies at the heart of a vibrant Caribbean blue economy, which operates within a dynamic international legislative and policy landscape that impacts fish trade in the Caribbean and, by extension, both national and regional economies.

The meeting deliberated upon the implications of the listing of the queen conch under the United States (US) Endangered Species Act (ESA) as well as upon strategies for securing Caribbean trade amid measures arising under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, the US Import Provisions & High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, the US NOAA Fisheries Seafood Import Monitoring Programme, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships.

The CRFM said it has played an active role in regional and international initiatives to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other fisheries-related crimes.

The council received updates on the efforts made by the CRFM Secretariat and member states to address fisheries-related crimes, including efforts through the global Blue Justice Initiative and the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub, based in Jamaica.

They also received updates on interventions led by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), as well as a new partnership with the Caricom Implementing Agency for Crime and Security and Auxilium Worldwide.

The council is scheduled to hold an in-person meeting in October 2025 at Caribbean Week of Agriculture, to be held in St Kitts and Nevis.