Developing Organizational Capacity for Ecosystem Stewardship and Livelihoods in Caribbean Small-Scale Fisheries (StewardFish)

The Developing Organizational Capacity for Ecosystem Stewardship and Livelihoods in Caribbean Small Scale Fisheries ( StewardFish ) project recognized that there were a number of challenges hindering the engagement of fisherfolk and their organizations in the sustainable management of fisheries in the Caribbean region, including limited capacity of fisherfolk organizations to participate effectively in fisheries governance; insufficient capacity and knowledge of ecosystem stewardship practices for fisheries sustainability among fisherfolk ; inadequate public awareness of ecosystem approaches to support best practices and ensure compliance; inadequate documentation of successful experiences and practices for sustainable fisheries livelihood strategies; and inadequate management and collaboration mechanisms to support fisherfolk leaders in monitoring and evaluating projects. In addressing these constraints, the project supported the implementation of the ten year Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by empowering fisherfolk throughout fisheries value chains to engage in resource management, decision making processes and sustainable livelihoods, with strengthened institutional support at all levels.