CRFM launches 20th anniversary celebrations

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), a CARICOM Institution, virtually launched its 20^th anniversary celebrations on Monday, 27 March.

The CRFM was officially inaugurated on 27 March 2003, in Belize City, Belize, where it is headquartered. It is an inter-governmental organisation with its mission being to “To promote and facilitate the responsible utilisation of the region’s fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region”.

The organisation consists of three bodies – the Ministerial Council; the Caribbean Fisheries Forum; and the CRFM Secretariat. Its members are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The launch featured remarks by the Hon. Parmanand Sewdien, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries of Suriname and Chair of the CRFM Ministerial Council; the Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Mr. Joseph Cox, CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Integration, Innovation and Development; Mr. Milton Haughton, Executive Director of CRFM; Mr. Zojindra Arjune of the Fisheries Division of Suriname and Chair of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum; and Mr. Adrian LaRoda, Chair, Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations.

In remarks, the speakers reflected on the vision behind the creation of the regional institution; its two decades of frontline service to promote sustainable fisheries development, management, and conservation; and its approach to the future.

The CRFM will have activities throughout 2023 to mark the anniversary.

Please view the launch below:

Source: CARICOM TODAY