In a landmark initiative for Caribbean economic development, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has partnered with Grenada’s Ministry of the Blue Economy and Marine Affairs to conduct an intensive capacity-building workshop aimed at transforming the sea moss sector. The comprehensive three-day program, held from January 26-28, 2026, blended technical instruction with practical field experience to enhance industry capabilities across production, harvesting, post-harvest processing, food safety protocols, product innovation, marketing strategies, and business management.
Jarvan Williams, Permanent Secretary of Grenada’s Blue Economy Ministry, emphasized the government’s strategic commitment to mariculture development, noting that “the 2026 budget explicitly targets sea moss as a priority sector aligned with both national food security objectives and the OECS Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Programme.”
The workshop represents a critical component of the broader Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity (CRAB) Project, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). Theresa Erin Sanderson, Technical Officer for the CRAB Project, explained that the initiative provides capacity building support and grant funding for conservation, biodiversity, and sea moss farming projects throughout the Caribbean region.
Natasha Deterville-Moise, Officer in Charge of the OECS Economic Development Unit, characterized the event as “a tangible step in the OECS commitment to building a resilient and thriving blue economy across our Member States,” highlighting the dual significance of sea moss as both an economic livelihood and an ecological asset.
Grenada’s Minister for the Blue Economy and Marine Affairs, Hon. Lennox Andrews, delivered a feature address framing the workshop within the government’s comprehensive vision for sustainable development. “This marks another step in fostering economic development, climate resilience, and food security at the national level,” Minister Andrews stated, emphasizing the sector’s unique position at the intersection of conservation, climate adaptation, livelihood protection, and entrepreneurship.
The minister further detailed the government’s strategic prioritization of sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and mariculture as key growth areas within the blue economy, noting their alignment with national development pillars and policies. This workshop signifies a pivotal advancement in Grenada’s journey toward establishing a innovative, inclusive, and future-ready blue economy model with sea moss as a cornerstone commodity.