Implementing the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF)
Issues and Questions – St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) response
- Partnering for implementation
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Role of SVG Fisheries:
- Ensure that fishers and relevant stakeholders understand what the SSF guidelines are and how it may affect them (there are both rights and responsibilities)
- Offer support, maybe through capacity development, for fishers so that all parties play a role in sustainable fisheries (co-management structure)
- Ensure that Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) systems are in place and functioning
- Provide representation for the interests of fishers in management and decision making workshops and forums.
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It is the duty of SVG Fisheries as well as the wider population to ensure sustainable fisheries by:
- Good governance practices
- Maintaining the habitats and ecosystems supporting the fishery sector so that the marine environment are in good condition
- Ensuring sustenance through laws, regulations and policies which allows us to have fish for future generations while allowing us to provide still for present population
- Applying the EcoSystem Approach
- Partnerships may be fostered through stakeholder consultations in all fishing communities and other relevant communities if necessary
- Requirements: fisherfolk consultations, legislation reform/strengthening, project funding
- Partnerships can be developing through communication such as media, public awareness, use of social media (Facebook, Twitter), radio and television. Also community consultations and developing a main driver for example entertainer, musical D.J etc
- Information and communication – promoting experience sharing and collaboration
- By engaging the attention of the youths which can be done by website tools.
- Best practices: Website (blogs, e-newsletters), local media (newspaper articles, radio interviews, television interviews, video specials)
- Progress measured: Enlist project officers throughout the different regions. These persons can also liaise and work along with organizations who are responsible for fishers. For example CRFM for CARICOM and Associate members of CARICOM
- Use of television, radio, Facebook, Twitter, house to house consultations, one on one conversations with stakeholders & entrepreneurs and exhibitions in strategic points both urban and rural.
- Challenges and opportunities – needs for support and interventions
- Lack of support by stakeholders, government etc
- Ensuring the guidelines are applicable to SVG and not just something handed down to us
- Public awareness – changing the mindset of our people
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Varying intervention in the long term:
- Education of public, including youth , on important areas of sustainable fisheries
- Training
- Marine Protected Areas
- Complete governance of the sea by the government
- Regulations and polices
- Awareness campaigns
St. Vincent and the Grenadines