The First meeting of the WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CITES/CFMC working group on shark conservation and management was held in Barbados on 17-19 October 2017. The meeting brought together more than 30 shark fisheries experts, conservationists, marine biologists and fisheries officers from 15 WECAFC members, regional fisheries bodies, fisheries technical advisory institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other relevant stakeholders.

The 2nd meeting of the Regional Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, was held in Barbados in the period 19 - 21 September 2017. The Regional Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (RWG-IUU) is a joint working group of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), and Organization for Fisheries and Aquaculture of Central America (OSPESCA).

The main aim of this workshop was capacity building of the national observers and researchers collecting or analyzing data from tuna longline vessels operating out of Indonesia. Furthemore, that the use of best practice seabird bycatch mitigation measures is enhanced and accelerated by fleets operating in critical fishing areas of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

The workshop brought together 38 representatives from 13 Caribbean countries and overseas territories' fisheries departments, regional fisheries bodies, fisheries technical advisory institutions, non-governmental organizations, various fishery statistics specialists and other relevant stakeholders. Participants' knowledge of regional fishery data challenges and their capacities to address these challenges effectively were developed over the course of the workshop.

Bilingual document: Report of the Third Regional Workshop on Caribbean Billfish Management and Conservation of the WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC Working Group on Recreational Fisheries. Bridgetown, Bridgetown, Barbados. 4-6 April 2017 / Informe del 3er Taller Regional sobre el Ordenamiento y la Conservación de los Picudos del Caribe del Grupo de Trabajo COPACO/OSPESCA/CRFM/CFMC sobre la Pesca Recreativa, Bridgetown, Barbados. 4-6 abril 2017