Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar and Fisherman, Winsbert Harry have been named as champions for their role in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) region.

A release from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said their recognition is in line with activities surrounding the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly of 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022).

The declaration is in recognition of the millions of small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers who provide healthy and nutritious food to billions of people globally and the contribution of these workers to eradicating hunger.

The FAO) has been charged with leading the celebrations for the year in collaboration with other relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, the release explains.  In the fishing industry, artisanal fishing or traditional fisheries involves fishing households as opposed to commercial companies, using relatively small amount of capital and energy, relatively small fishing vessels (if any), making short fishing trips, close to shore, mainly for local consumption.

Held under the theme, “Recovery and Resilience, with Gender and Youth, the goal of IYAFA 2022 in the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) region is to promote the sustainable development of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture food systems to enhance the well-being of producers as well as consumers. 

An important part of the IYAFA celebrations is the recognition of champions- individuals or entities who have played a significant role in the sector and who have the potential to further influence progress in the development of sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture food systems.  

Therefore, after two calls, the first of which was made in September, the WECAFC Secretariat received and accepted 34 nominations from across the area of competence, including from Member States and partner organizations. The WECAFC IYAFA steering committee subsequently selected 24 small-scale fisheries and aquaculture champions from across the region representing academia, civil society, policy-makers, small-scale fisheries and aquaculture (SSF/A) leaders, and organizations. These champions will play an active role in the celebrations participating in regional and national activities.

In the category: policy makers – Ministers and/or ministries responsible for small-scale fisheries, small-scale aquaculture (SSA) and related areas, this country’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries etc., Saboto Caesar was named as champion along with his Venezuelan counterpart Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture.

In nominating Caesar policy-maker champion, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) indicated that the minister is poised, “to focus regional attention on the role that small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers play in food security and nutrition, poverty eradication, and sustainable use of natural resources.”

In the grouping, small-scale fisheries and aquaculture leaders, Harry was named champion along with associates from Colombia, Barbados, Guyana and St Lucia.

FAO Fisheries Officer and WECAFC Secretary, Yvette DieiOuadi said, “Celebrating these Champions on 29 June, an important Day in the Caribbean, the Fisherman’s Day, is a memorable and timely opportunity for they have exemplified and demonstrated a significant commitment to the ongoing sustainable development of a sector which is vital, far beyond regional reach.

“Throughout the celebratory year they will be engaged in activities representing the holistic and multi-scale approach that WECAFC has taken to celebrate IYAFA in the region”.

The FAO noted that globally, fisheries is an important sector and provides both primary and secondary sources of income in various regions, contributing to food security and nutrition across the Caribbean region.