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This manual on safety at sea for small-scale fishers in the Caribbean aims to contribute to a culture of safety awareness among fisherfolk, reduce the number of accidents and increase the chances of survival if accidents occur. The manual provides guidance on safety matters related to the work on a small-scale fishing vessel (e.g. fire safety, deck safety, lifesaving equipment, lighting and ventilation), personal safety and navigation safety. Checks and procedures to be performed before a fishing trip, as well as guidance for survival at sea, are also included in this manual. Compared to the global version, this manual includes more details on safety measures to be taken on open (undecked) vessels and specific Caribbean approaches to fishers safety.

This regional version manual was developed by the FISH Safety Foundation (FSF) and FAO with inputs from you, the safety at sea professionals in the Caribbean region, participants in the Train-the-Trainer workshop on safety at sea for small-scale fisheries in the Caribbean, held in St Lucia in January 2020. The manual was made in support of the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The production of this document was facilitated by contributions from the Government of Norway and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) financed, FAO implemented Climate Change Adaptation in the Eastern Caribbean Fisheries Sector project (CC4Fish).