In a targeted move to strengthen Haiti’s coastal fishing communities and boost regional food security, Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) has distributed thousands of dollars worth of new fishing equipment and critical supplies to 45 local fishing associations across the Grand’Anse department. The distribution, carried out through MARNDR’s Program to Support Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity and Improve Rural Infrastructure for Market Access (PAPAIR), forms part of a broader co-financed development project covering Haiti’s southern and Grand’Anse regions, with core funding provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Agronomist Marcelin Aubourg, Haiti’s Minister of Agriculture, attended the distribution event in person, taking time to hold one-on-one conversations with beneficiary fishermen to collect on-the-ground feedback about their needs, challenges, and experiences with the program. Association representatives wasted no time in expressing their deep gratitude for the targeted technical and organizational support provided by MARNDR, noting that the intervention fills a long-unmet need for the Grand’Anse fishing sector, which has long grappled with outdated, insufficient equipment that limited productivity.
Early reports from participating fishermen already show tangible positive impacts from the donation. Beneficiaries explained that the upgraded equipment has already boosted their daily catch volumes, allowing their associations to generate consistent new income streams. This revenue is not only covering basic household needs and children’s school fees for member families but is also enabling contributions to community-focused social projects that benefit the broader region.
Minister Aubourg commended the beneficiary associations for their active engagement and commitment throughout the project rollout, emphasizing that the long-term success of the initiative depends just as much on local participation as it does on external funding and equipment. He urged participating fishermen to maintain their current momentum, and highlighted the importance of proper maintenance and care for the new equipment to ensure its long-term functionality. This responsible stewardship, he noted, will allow the assets to benefit future generations of fishermen through the association’s shared community model.
The full list of distributed equipment reflects a holistic approach to supporting the sector, addressing productivity, storage, safety, and maintenance needs all at once. The donation included 16 fiberglass fishing boats, 50 15-horsepower outboard motors, eight 13-foot solar-powered freezers for catch storage, 50 complete engine maintenance kits, 100 assembled fishing tackle kits, five Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to boost catch volumes, and 165 75-liter insulated coolers for transporting catch to market. To address longstanding safety concerns for fishermen working off Haiti’s coast, the donation also included a full set of personal safety equipment, including life jackets, designed to improve working conditions and reduce risk at sea.