In a landmark development for Caribbean regional cooperation, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) has inked two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at bolstering fisheries management and advancing the Blue Economy. The first agreement, signed on September 30, 2025, during the Sixteenth Special Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council in Saint Kitts and Nevis, formalizes a partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). This historic accord was executed by Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the CRFM Secretariat, and H.E. Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS, during the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), an annual event organized by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat. The MoU, spanning 2025 to 2028, aims to enhance governance, management, and resilience in fisheries, while fostering youth and women empowerment, economic development, and research collaboration in the sector. Dr. Williams emphasized the importance of formalizing the long-standing informal relationship between the CRFM and OECS, which includes eight shared member states. Dr. Jules highlighted the agreement’s potential to elevate collaboration to new heights, particularly in areas such as safety at sea, insurance for fishers, and the integration of agriculture and fisheries. Earlier in September, the CRFM also signed a five-year MoU with the University of the West Indies (UWI), represented by Professor Carl Justin Robinson, Campus Principal of the UWI Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda. This agreement focuses on academic and educational collaboration in blue economy development, marine spatial planning, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem resilience. The Centre of Excellence for Oceanography and the Blue Economy (COBE), a joint initiative involving the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, UWI, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, will play a pivotal role in supporting these efforts. These agreements mark a significant step forward in regional cooperation, aiming to create sustainable and inclusive growth in the Caribbean’s fisheries and Blue Economy sectors.
Antigua’s UWI Five Islands Campus to Lead Regional Blue Economy Collaboration Under New MoU
