Working to advance the sustainable blue economy and sustainable livelihoods, the Blue BioTrade Project hosted a stakeholder consultation workshop on November 4, 2021, to validate a draft country case study titled “Blue BioTrade in Saint Lucia: Developing value for the sustainable trade and production of queen conch in the Caribbean”. This event was hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in cooperation with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Saint Lucia Department of Fisheries.
The objective of the event was to present the main findings of the study to stakeholders, receive detailed feedback on these findings, and prioritise recommendations presented within the report. The event brought together over 30 stakeholders, directly and indirectly, involved in the harvest and management of the queen conch fishery in Saint Lucia, including conch divers, large and small processors, conservation agencies, the Marine Unit of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, conch artisans, and the Deputy and Chief Fisheries Officers.
The draft case study presented a value chain analysis of the queen conch production in Saint Lucia, identifying the main challenges and opportunities faced by stakeholders, using the BioTrade principles and criteria as a framework of analysis.
OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules in his remarks at the consultation noted that “An economic cluster based on identified opportunities, shared efforts and deep collaboration can increase income and sustainability of queen conch products.”
According to Hon. Alfred Prosper, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources, and Co-operatives in his opening remarks, “Managing our resource sustainably in the face of global crises is essential to unlock new markets for the benefit of everyone.”