With more focus being directed at creating sustainable livelihoods from the ‘blue economy’ member states of the sub-region have embarked on a project that seeks to empower small-scale coastal communities to capitalize on global demand for marine bio-resources.
The Commission of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and with support from the Secretariat for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), hosted a stakeholder consultation and validation event for the UNCTAD-OECS Blue BioTrade Project.
The Commission of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in cooperation with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), with support from the Secretariat for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), hosted a stakeholder consultation and validation event for the UNCTAD-OECS Blue BioTrade Project.
The dual thrust of the Bio Trade Project focused on empowering small-scale coastal producers from the OECS Member States to capitalize on the briskly increasing global demand for marine-based bio-resources like the queen conch and high-value algae-like sea moss.
At the consultation and validation event, stakeholders were informed of the research findings and evidence-based policy solutions that will serve as a basis for delivering tailor-made capacity building activities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Saint Lucia.
Chief Fisheries Officer, Sarita Williams-Peter, highlighted one of the most important objectives of the project: increasing economic opportunities for coastal communities through the reduction of trade barriers to regional and international markets.
“What has been done is a study that explores the potential for trade, investment, and export markets…while getting inputs from fisherfolk and other stakeholders into that study.” she said.
“That’s very important …since it helps us understand where we can go with the industry, what are the potentials for the industry or increasing opportunities for livelihoods in the sector,” explained Williams-Peter.
One of the project’s main findings is the possibility of trade with neighboring Caribbean countries. Economic Consultant and Coordinator of the Blue BioTrade Project, Alexander Girvan, emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia in order to maximize the value of the queen conch product, which includes the shells as well as the pearls found in the conch.
“Saint Lucia is very special in terms of the queen conch production because you guys have very deep queen conch which means that it actually is of a very unique value,” Girvan said.
He noted that while presently St Lucia cannot legally export its products to Martinique, if St Lucian producers were able to get into that export market, they would benefit from a much higher value.
“So I’m hoping …to meet (requirements) for the export to the European Union (EU) so that St Lucian producers can get the highest possible price for their very special product,” declared Girvan.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, Alfred Prospere, expressed gratitude to the OECS, UNCTAD, CITES, and the European Union for their commitments towards implementing the BioTrade project and harnessing the economic opportunities inherent in the effective stewardship of Caribbean marine resources.
He noted that the participation of ministry personnel in the Bio-Trade project “reflects our commitment to pursuing the sustainable development of our ocean and fisheries resources.”
Minister Prospere said while the project’s goal is to ensure that small-scale coastal producers within and outside of the selected Caribbean countries benefit from trade opportunities in the queen conch value chain, the importance of ensuring the sustainability of the ocean’s resources should not be overlooked.