Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Peter A. Murray
Programme Officer
OECS Environment and Sustainable Development Unit
Morne Fortuné
Castries
Saint Lucia
Introduction
Fishery resources have been an important source of food and livelihood for the people of the
Caribbean region (Haughton and SinghRenton, 2001). Having said this, the wider CARICOM
region’s fisheries are “characterised by declining stocks, a deteriorating marine environment
which is negatively impacting the habitats, ineffectively managed and still expanding fishing
effort by fishers who have traditionally had free access, … generally poor recognition within
government administrations of the importance of the fishery sector and especially of fishery
divisions that are charged with management and conservation responsibilities of marine
resources. This has generally resulted in a lack of clear policy, and of appropriate legal and
institutional arrangements for sustainable fisheries management. This has in turn translated into
a history of poor levels of funding by governments to fishery departments and a subsequent low
level of management capacity” (Haughton and SinghRenton, 2001). It is further suggested that
“the need for effective management within the fishery sectors of the region is urgent and critical
if the natural resources base (fish and habitats) and the human resources base (fisherfolk) on
which the fisheries depend are to survive, such that valuable harvests may be sustained far into
the future" (ibid.).
The fact that fishing can be seen as “hunting blindfolded” impacts on the management of
resource use, as well as on the psychology of resource users. Fish stocks, though renewable, are
not infinite and need to be managed in a responsible manner if they are to continue to contribute
to the nutritional, economic and social well being of the people of the region. Many regional
fisheries are organised and conducted in ways that will inevitably lead to overfishing.
OECS Fisheries
The general situation of fisheries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub
region bears many similarities to other emerging smallscale fisheries around the world. The
resources that are the most accessible to the fishers, considering their geographic location,
capture technology, capital availability and markets are coming under increasing pressure and in
some instances already showing signs of collapse. The inshore shallow reef resources fall into
this category. On the other hand, the exploitation of offshore pelagic and deep slope resources
has some important implications. Demersal deep slope species are slow maturing and stocks are
easily depleted, as has already been manifested in Grenada. The exploitation of larger pelagics
(tunas, wahoo, dolphin and sailfish) implies higher energy costs and the need for larger, more
seaworthy vessels. In addition, the fishery for migratory pelagic stocks is by definition seasonal,
with characteristic high and low periods, making financing more challenging both for the lending
institution and the borrower. Politically and socially the issue is particularly poignant as such
resources have traditionally supplied a large part of the domestic (nontourist) market.
The demand for fish and fish products is growing in the OECS subregion as a result of
economic growth, population growth and changes in diet and consumption habits (Wilson and
Murray, 2001). In light of the growing stress on inshore resources, States are increasingly
1
challenged by the difficulty of answering to their own domestic fish demands, even without the
additional demands of the tourist industry. The development of tourism in the subregion has
resulted in demand to which national fisheries have been unable to respond completely and,
consequently, growing fish imports (Wilson, 1999 cited in Wilson and Murray, 2001). A
number of OECS Governments have put in place statutory entities with responsibility for
guaranteeing a minimum and permanent market to fishers, thus effectively subsidising their
fisheries and reducing the marketing risk (ibid.). It is questionable whether these State
marketing ventures are viable in commercial terms. In fact, if completely privatised, they might
be forced to adopt very different operational and pricing strategies.
Stressed traditional fishery resources, national market demands and growing imports result in
increasing pressure for diversification of the fishery, and this may have implications in the fields
of technology, financing, processing, and resource management (Wilson and Murray, 2001).
This is against the backdrop of a lack of conclusive biological and catch/effort data on the
resources in the subregion, and limited capability of fisheries departments, making it difficult
for resource managers to make confident decisions regarding the management and development
of the fisheries.
Current methods of evaluating the contribution of fisheries to the economies of OECS Member
States may overlook any incremental economic benefit of the export market, as well as support
services to the industry. In fact, it is argued that in addition to the value added as a consequence
of export markets, expenditure on the sector such as investment in infrastructure, marketing,
subsidies, and the like, could be seen as contributing to the overall value of the industry. Thus
from the economic standpoint, fisheries play an important and underrated part in the economies
of OECS Member States, providing both fulltime, parttime and seasonal employment,
contributing significantly both to domestic food security and national Gross Domestic Product
(GDP: table 1).
In addition, the position which fish has in the local diet is becoming more significant as countries
develop and consumers become more health conscious. The improved good health of the
population as a result of increased utilisation of fish and fisheries products can be seen as
contributing to reduced expenditure on health services and this should be seen as increasing the
true value of the fisheries sector to national economies. In some States the tourist market for fish
products is strong, consuming a large amount of fish compared to the domestic market (c.f.
Finlay, 1999; George, 1999; Guiste, 1999; Ryan, 1999). This support to the tourism industry
needs to be considered when determining the extent to which the fisheries sector contributes to
the economies. The intraregional trade in fish is product specific, and is often focused on
added value products such as flying fish fillets.
Offshore resources and larger pelagics are thought to have the best potential for increased
exploitation and present an identifiable path for technical and economic diversification. At
national levels fishers are becoming both more professional and more committed. The sub
regional fisheries sector is now managing to attract private investment from persons who, with
few traditional links with fishing, are bringing a new level of professionalism to it. In recent
years, there has been a significant investment in fisheries infrastructure in the OECS subregion,
contributing to a transformation process in some Member State fisheries (Wilson and Murray,
2001). Grant funded projects have financed, inter alia, the establishment of landing sites,
processing infrastructure and facilities for storage of both fish and equipment.
Moves have been made to manage existing resources, but the existing technologies are
inadequate to take up the challenge of resource management and the exploitation of new
2
resources. National policy statements and objectives for fisheries need to be further developed
and clarified to assist the implementation of national fisheries strategies.
Notwithstanding the strategic approach being taken by OECS Member States via the
development and (unfortunately, often ad hoc) implementation of the Fisheries Management and
Development Strategy (OECS, 1999), a number of global realities impact on the OECS Fisheries
sector. The fisheries of the world are accepted as being over capacity (in terms of capital
investment in vessels and gear) and overfished. The consensus among the global scientific
community is that the only recourse is to reduce fishing effort and target species at levels high up
the food web. It is the prevailing view of the global scientific community that reserving 20%
30% of marine production (as marine protected areas or reserves) may also be one of the few
mechanisms towards obviating the current global fisheries crisis. It is safe to say that there is
likely to be increasing pressure on developing States, like those of the Eastern Caribbean, to
reduce fishing effort: often interpreted as the number of fishers. This pressure will not take
cognisance of the fact that the developed countries, though having the smaller number of fishers,
have the largest effective fishing effort as a consequence of the technical superiority of the
fishing platforms (vessels) and gear used.
Stock status
As there is little doubt that the nearshore fisheries are most likely overexploited, the problem is
not one of reducing the number of fishers in Eastern Caribbean countries but redistributing them,
and arresting uncontrolled capitalisation of fisheries. In attempting to control capitalisation of the
fisheries, maximising profitability at the expense of access is likely to generate increased
political unease, generated by the potential fishermen who see a profitable fishery from which
they are excluded. Given this tenuous situation, the management and development of the
fisheries of OECS Member States must be driven by a clear understanding of the role fisheries
are to play in the economies of the States.
In the past, fisheries management objectives have been determined principally by biological
limitations of the resource and by political pressures. The view has recently been espoused that
if management is to be developed from a rationale that includes, inter alia, biological, political,
social and economic considerations, then management must appreciate biological, political,
social and economic objectives (c.f. Berkes et al., 2001). Economic objectives involve
questions of economic efficiency, the relation between marginal cost and marginal value, and the
fact that the return on investment should be favourable when compared with alternative
investments. The biological objectives involve related questions of stock and recruitment, yield
per recruit, and the relation between catch and effort. Optimizing any one of these alone may
produce advice that is totally unrealistic for the development of the sector, thus a holistic
developmental approach, with combined objectives, must be taken.
Given the increasing international demand for reduction of fishing effort, the issue of global tuna
fisheries is of particular concern to OECS Member States. Large offshore pelagic fish are
generally considered to hold the greatest potential for development and most Lesser Antilles
countries are attempting to increase the effort in these fisheries (Wilson, 1999 cited in Wilson
and Murray, 2001), hence, the pelagic fishery is one of the fastest growing in most of these
islands. Large pelagics are more important in the Windward Islands and Barbados than in the
Leeward Islands, though the latter OECS Member States have all indicated (in drafting their
fishery management and development plans) the decision to reduce fishing pressure on their
nearshore fishery resources by targeting the offshore pelagics. These pelagic species include the
dolphinfish; wahoo, also called kingfish; tunas; and flyingfish.
3
Table 1. OECS Fisheries – Economic summary (Landos and Kumar, 2004)
Anguilla Antigua & BVI Dominica Grenada Montserrat. Nevis St. Kitts St. Lucia SVG
Barbuda
Average annual 200 1824 5.1 1300 2248 32 249 351 1604 771
tonnage of fish
No. of landing 4 25 16 32 43 2 7 7 17 36
sites
Number of 400 1,200 887 2,891 1,949 60 240 ? 2137 2,500 full
fishermen and part
time, plus
500 vendors,
gutters etc.
Represents
5% of
workforce.
Contribution of 2.6% 1.8% 4% 1% 1.7% 0.6% 8.98 ? 0.8 2%
fishing industry
to GDP
Current three Various Lobster, red N/A N/A Various to N/A Occasional Conch and NA Dolphin fish,
main to St snapper USA/Marti conch and lobster Price EC$4 red snapper
fish/crustacean/ Martin nique lobster to Price EC$7 6 /lb Price EC$ 7
shellfish Price Price French 12/lb 25 /lb
exported US$25 depends on Territories
lb demand Price EC$9
12 /lb
Modern fishing No No No No Yes No No No No Yes
vessels (exc.
Pirogues)
Modern No No No No Yes No No No No Yes
refrigerated
transport
vehicles
Modern No Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
processing
facility
4
International management
The stocks of migratory pelagic species targeted by OECS Member States may not be accessible
to the individual national fisheries during certain periods or in particular areas of its distribution;
additionally, samples from different areas may represent different components of the stock. This
means that there is a need for the determination of how management among countries can be co
ordinated, within a common policy framework, providing support to national, zonal, and sub
regional fisheries resource management, to allow for sustainable development of the pelagic
fisheries of OECS Member States. Given that research efforts of ICCAT appear to always
exclude or, at best, marginalise the pelagic species targeted by OECS Member States possibly
reducing the relevance of the decision made, Member States of the OECS need to consider the
extent to which they will continue expansion of their pelagic fisheries. This must be done
against the backdrop of the recommendations by ICCAT’s Standing Committee on Research
and Statistics that in general for most of the highly migratory pelagic species, with the exception
of skipjack tuna and “small tunas” (which include blackfin tuna, the mackerels, and wahoo),
there should be a reduction of overall catch or fishing effort to anything from 1991 1995 levels
(depending on the species) in addition to some size limits on individual species (ICCAT, 2001,
2002, 2003).
ICCAT’s ability to have its Member States place (economic) sanctions on nonMembers that fail
to adhere to its management measures is consistent with current international law: specifically,
the provisions of the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and
Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, adopted by the Conference of the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 24 November 1993 (a.k.a the
Compliance or High Seas Agreement); the Agreement for the Implementation of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation
and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, adopted at New
York on 4 August 1995 (a.k.a. the UN Fish Stocks Agreement); and the FAO Code of Conduct
for Responsible Fishing (FAO, 1995).
Investment and financing
In each of the OECS Member States there already exists at least one development finance
institution lending at subsidised rates (typically 35% lower than the commercial banks) and, in
principle, these funds are available for investment in the fisheries sector. Grenada, Dominica
and St Lucia have lines of credit specifically for fisheries sector investments (Finlay, 1999;
Guiste, 1999; George, 1999). Commercial banks are also lending into the fisheries sector, but
under more stringent loan conditions. Overall, there is a high rate of delinquency and defaulting
on repayments by fishers who borrow from the banks. Thus the commercial banks will only
invest with caution and real guarantees. So although funds may be available, they are in reality
difficult for fishers to access. Particular problems from the fishers’ viewpoints include:
1. High initial fees (commissions, inspection fees);
2. Cost or unavailability of insurance;
3. Difficulty in the provision of sufficient guarantees and collateral.
In some instances loan ceilings of the development finance institutions are too low (typically
around EC$ 45,000 per loan) to facilitate diversification, particularly the acquisition of higher
technology investments. Recently though, there are some signs that both the banks and the
development finance institutions are improving their attitude towards the sector (George, 1999;
Ryan, 1999; Wilson, 1999 cited in Wilson and Murray, 2001); in addition, in at least one OECS
Member States fishermen’s cooperatives have been known to provide credit to members for the
purchase of engines or equipment (Sarah George, pers. comm.). The improving attitude of banks
5
and development finance institutions is more closely associated with the appearance of a new
generation of investors rather than a change in the behaviour of existing operators with the
sector.
Technology and Infrastructure
Most of the inshore and coastal fishing in the region is carried out in open or halfdecked vessels,
powered by conventional outboard motors. There is a transformation under way and the more
traditional wooden vessels are being replaced by more seaworthy 710m glass fibre vessels
powered by outboard engines rarely smaller than 75HP and often over 115HP (Murray et al.,
2004).
Figure 1 More seaworthy vessels can mean more diversified fisheries
The level of safety, the range and carrying capacity of the present fleets is of particular concern.
Typically fuel is the most significant (around 50%) of direct operating costs. In some areas
moves have been made to manage existing resources through modification of existing gears
(mesh size regulations). However, the existing technologies are often not easily adaptable to
meet the challenge of resource management and the exploitation of new resources (Wilson, 1999
cited in Wilson and Murray 2001).
The distribution of fisheries infrastructure is very uneven across the subregion. Grant funded
projects have financed the establishment of landing sites, processing infrastructure and facilities
for storage of both fish and equipment (Murray, 1999a). OECS Member States appear unified in
the opinion that the development of physical infrastructure, particularly port and storage facilities
is a vital part of modernisation of the fishery, encouraging private sector investment (Wilson,
1999 cited in Wilson and Murray 2001). This has contributed to the use of more seaworthy
vessels, more consistent operating patterns, and more diversified fisheries (ibid.).
Marketing. Trade and Subsidies
The primary marketing and distribution of fish in the subregion is characterised by:
· Direct sales to the consumer;
· Sales to many small traders, who will sell to the consumer with little further processing;
· Sales to State supported marketing organisations at a guaranteed price.
6
The national markets appear to be strong enough to be able to absorb all of the current
production (Wilson and Murray, 2001) the position of fish has in the local diet is reported as
becoming more significant as countries develop and consumers become more health conscious.
If a weakness exists it is in the internal distribution of fish products, the failure of which has been
known to lead to spoilage and dumping (Wilson, 1999; Wilson and Murray, 2001). On average
throughout the OECS, domestic consumption is focused upon inshore species, particularly small
pelagics and shallow reef demersals.
The government intervenes directly in the purchasing of fish products in some States, providing
a guaranteed price (independent of time of day or quantity) and the capacity to purchase and
store large quantities of fish, even during peak production periods. In guaranteeing a minimum
and permanent market, governments are effectively subsidising their fisheries and reducing the
marketing risk (Wilson and Murray, 2001). Some of the same State marketing ventures are also
closely involved with the importing of fish products. It is considered unlikely that these State
marketing ventures are viable in commercial terms (particularly if importing were to be opened
up to private operators) and, if completely privatised, they would be forced to adopt very
different operational and pricing strategies (ibid.).
7
Fisheries remains an important economic sector in the WTO/OECS member states due to its
contribution to employment, foreign exchange earnings and overall GDP (c.f. Chaitoo, 2002;
Landos and Kumar, 2004 and others). The agricultural sector in the six independent Member
States have experienced overall declines ranging from 0.1% to 6.8% in 4 of the years since
accession to the WTO (Chaitoo, 2002). The countries of the OECS are committed toward free
trade at the various levels as evidenced by their participation in regional, hemispheric and global
trade negotiations. The six independent member countries have gone a long way in meeting their
obligations under the various WTO agreements relating to agriculture. Ironically, while fisheries
products are often classified within the agriculture sector, they are not included specifically in
the Agreement on Agriculture (WTO, 2002). Having said that, the Agreement on Subsidies and
Countervailing Measures (ASCM), including Article XVI GATT 1994, GATT Agreement on
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Article 1, Article 3.1, Article 27, Article 6, Annex VII,
GATT all are of relevance to OECS fisheries.
OECS governments have, over the years, facilitated investment in the sector through subsidy
schemes and tax holidays, which have given concessions including import duty reduction on
capital equipment, rebates on the duty paid on fuel and tax exemptions. Across Member States,
subsidies vary in their degree, the inputs that are covered, and the method of implementation
(Wilson, 1999 cited in Wilson and Murray 2001). They may have long term cost implications
and possibly negative effects on other sectors of the economy if investment capital is in short
supply.
The Ministerial Declaration from the WTO 5 th Ministerial Conference in Doha (November 2001)
commits WTO members to undertake negotiations: “to clarify and improve WTO disciplines on
fisheries subsidies, taking into account the importance of this sector to developing countries”
(extract from Para 28 of the WTO Ministerial Declaration). According to the WTO Agreement
on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM), a subsidy has 3 basic elements: (i) a
financial contribution (ii) by a government or any public body within the territory of a Member
(iii) which confers a benefit. All three of these elements must be satisfied in order for a subsidy
to exist. However, it can be contested (a) whether there can be a subsidy without a charge on the
public account, or (b) whether other forms of government intervention that do not involve an
expense to the government but which nevertheless distort competition should be considered to be
subsidies. Given such contentions, the ASCM notes that subsidies do require a financial
contribution. It has listed the types of measures that represent a financial contribution, e.g.,
grants, loans, equity infusions, loan guarantees, fiscal incentives, the provision of goods or
services, the purchase of goods etc (see also Grynberg, 2003).
The aforementioned decision taken by the international community is of some importance to
OECS Member States given that heightened subsidies disciplines, if crafted without sufficient
understanding or consideration of the particular circumstances of artisanal fishers could affect
the development efforts of all small vulnerable coastal states in the fisheries sector (Murray,
2005). Those involved in artisanal fisheries are normally lowincome groups and, in a number of
OECS States women play an increasingly important role in this sector. OECS governments
either have or are considering specific programs to assist these groups, which often include direct
assistance for the purchase of monetised inputs. This type of government assistance to low
income, low technology fishers to raise income levels by expanding into monetised activities for
the domestic and specialty export market is vital to the development efforts of these countries
and raising the standard of living of what are often very low income groups. As a result any
disciplines that may be developed on fisheries subsidies must be crafted so that they exempt
government programs to raise income levels of artisanal fishers.
8
For several years a group of large, marine product exporting, countries have pursued the issue of
fisheries subsidies in the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment and, following the
Ministerial Conference in Doha, in the Rules Negotiating Group. The argument that has been
advanced, though not universally supported, is that fisheries subsidies have had deleterious
effects upon sustainable fish catches (see Grynberg, 2003; RamBidesi, 2004; Commonwealth
Secretariat, 2005). It is not only that these issues are not necessarily an appropriate subject matter
for the WTO and are probably best addressed in other, more appropriate, fora such as the FAO
but in the context of most OECS member countries “subsidies” are necessary developmental
incentives for the industry (c.f. Rankine et al., 2005)
Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS)
The OECS Heads of Government, in the Castries Declaration of 24 November 1989 (cited in
Murray, 1999b), resolved “to establish a regional regime for the regulation and management of
the pelagic resources in the Lesser Antilles region...”. They also agreed to “take all possible
measures ... to prevent the use of indiscriminate fishing methods in their exclusive economic
zones”. OECS Heads of Government further resolved “that Member States, acting individually
and collectively, [would] take whatever action possible within relevant regional and international
organizations that would contribute towards the global restriction of harmful fishing practices”.
A common policy towards fisheries Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) has already
been espoused as exemplified by the signing of the OECS Common Fisheries Surveillance Zones
Agreement (CFSZA) by OECS Member States in February 1991. The CFSZA provides for
fisheries officers, police, and coastguard officers from other OECS Member States to be
authorized officers for the purpose of the enforcement of all the fisheries laws of the OECS
States (Murray, 1999b). The agreement pertains to the “fishery waters, the waters within the
fishery limits and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as the case may be of the participating
Member States”. It is of note that in the harmonized fisheries acts, the fishery waters are defined
as “the waters of the exclusive economic zone, territorial sea, and internal waters ... and any
other waters over which (the country) claims fisheries jurisdiction”. Given that most targeted
species are usually harvested within the boundaries of the territorial sea, the enforcement and
other provisions of the CFSZA are pertinent to the management of most fisheries of the OECS
Member States (Murray, 1999b).
Safetyatsea
Recently, the importance of safety issues is clearly recognized in the OECS Fisheries
Management and Development Strategy and Implementation Plan with its overall goal of “a well
developed and diversified regional fisheries sector, reflecting … fishers safety …(and), resulting
in social and economic well being of fishers and the wider community” (OECS, 1999;
parentheses mine).
Minimum safety standards have been proposed based on vessel classification by length over all
corresponding to size categories stipulated under a proposed group insurance scheme for OECS
vessels (Moore et al., 1991). Cognisant of the limited carrying capacities of the majority of
fishing vessels operating in the region, the suggested safety equipment included an amount,
“believed to be affordable to fishermen, stowage of which aboard their vessels should not pose
any problems” (ibid.). To varying extents Member States incorporated the proposed equipment
into their regulatory framework, however in most cases this was limited to the minimum required
with provision being made by for upgrade. Notwithstanding the “affordability”, fishermen in the
main still do not utilise the equipment and hence, legislating for the equipment has not led to
increased safetyatsea (Murray et al., 2004).
9
Over the years, the coast guards of OECS Member States have had to perform marine search and
rescue operations targeting fishermen who are lost at sea. There is also the view that often the
vessels concerned might not have been actually engaged in fishing activities at that time, or may
not even actually been active commercial fishing vessels (Sarah George, pers. comm.).
Notwithstanding, the OECS Heads of Government (the Authority) have expressed concern about
what they consider to be an unacceptably high incidence of distress cases and loss of life at sea.
The abnormally high expenses incurred as a result of the extended Search and Rescue (SAR)
missions have led to consideration being given to downscaling such activities owing to the
inability of OECS Member States to finance such operations (ibid.). This had (and still has)
implications for Safetyatsea and the continued confidence of fishers that in the event of a
distress situation adequate provisions were being made for their safety.
A recent collaborative project between the FAO, OECS Member States and Secretariat, and the
Government of Barbados has begun to facilitate the implementation of pertinent provisions of
the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries so that fishing will be made a safer activity
(FAO, 2001). In developing common standards for the design, construction, measurement and
the equipment of fishing vessels which can/will subsequently be incorporated into fisheries
regulations, the initiative can facilitate enhancement of fishing effort diversification programmes
while promoting greater cooperation between individual national fisheries and maritime
authorities. However, it must be recognised that the creation of standard specifications for the
design and construction of fishing vessels and the establishment of efficient fishing vessel
inspection services is only one approach to the safety of life and property at sea (Fitzpatrick,
2001).
OECS Member States need to improve the performance of fisheries management to ensure, that
in every aspect, the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and the
provisions therein are applied (ibid.). The general trend in relation to fishing vessel design,
construction and safety is to arrive at international, regional or subregional agreements on
minimum standards to be adopted (ibid.). In attempting to reach such standards OECS need,
interalia, to take into consideration:
· the size ranges of fishing vessels to which the standards are to be applied;
· prevailing weather conditions (common to the negotiating States);
· distances that the vessels may operate from safe havens;
· as well as, the type of fishing operations to be carried out.
The OECS Member States have an opportunity to develop suitable minimum standards and a
common approach to their implementation through technology exchange and a harmonized
system of fisheries rules and regulations in relation to fishing vessels (Murray et al., 2004)
Whither Economic Union and Fisheries Development?
Establishment of an economic union is regarded as the way forward to enable Member States to
compete more beneficially in today’s world of international trade and economic liberalisation,
and thereby provide answers to the nagging problems and challenges of vulnerability and
equitable development (Sandiford, 2005). To achieve these objectives members of such a union
would need to consider, inter alia:
· the establishment of common customs tariffs and common commercial policies towards
countries and territories not parties to the agreement;
· the abolition of the obstacles to the free movement of persons, services and capital;
10
· the progressive harmonisation of investment and development policies, including industrial
development and development planning;
· the progressive harmonisation of taxation policies and incentive legislation in order to
promote the equitable distribution of industries among Member States; and
· a common policy toward agricultural development, of which fisheries development is
traditionally considered as a subset
Perhaps the area of greatest potential for OECS States to increase the benefit flows from fishery
resource exploitation is in developing local employment creating and value added processing,
both to meet national and regional demands, as well as to generate foreign exchange earnings on
international markets. States will have to work towards the progressive harmonisation of
development, investment and industrial policies. This would include a common policy towards
development planning, which will need to have as its ultimate objective the coordination of
development plans, as well as the introduction of special measures for securing the establishment
and distribution of industries equitably among States. Account would have to be taken of all
relevant factors including the need for the continued and progressive development of these
States, so as to facilitate complementarity, avoid unnecessary duplication and thereby more
expeditiously achieve the basic aims of the Union.
The common industrial policy, which should include the fisheries industry, should have among
its objectives:
(a) sustainable utilisation as efficiently as possible of the natural and human resources;
(b) increase of production and productivity in industry by ensuring the rational development of
the units of production;
(c) encouragement of production of products which can be economically produced but which are
currently imported from outside; and,
(d) ensuring that a fair proportion of the returns to industry accrue to residents.
To achieve these objectives, there would be need to agree to the harmonisation of incentives
extended to encourage fishing industry activity. The removal of restrictions on the movement of
capital belonging to residents would also be necessary, as would be the adoption of a common
policy towards movement of capital. Such an industrial policy would need to speak to the
modernisation of all aspects of fisheries development to include primary and value added
products under four broad areas
· policy, legal and institutional reform;
· fisheries resources management;
· financial options, incentive regimes and insurance;
· production, product development and marketing.
11
· upgrade and construct the necessary infrastructure and networking linkages to facilitate
domestic, regional and extraregional marketing of fisheries products; and,
· establish and strengthen institutionally the relevant industry associations and their constituent
members to facilitate wide representation of stakeholders and partnerships between
government agencies and the private sector to address issues of supply, distribution and
consumption.
Such an overall approach to the further development of the fisheries industry would need to be
supported by the special and differential treatment provisions of the ASCM for Least Developed
Countries (especially with regard to any existing disciplines on fisheries industry subsidies), as
well as Part II of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Concomitant with this, States need to
ensure levels of environmental quality that maximize opportunities within the fisheries sector for
economic and social development for present and future generations without compromising the
integrity and sustainability of biological diversity, environmental and cultural assets.
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