Brussels Development Briefing n.32

Fish-farming the new driver of the blue economy?3rd July 2013

http://brusselsbriefings.net

Opportunities for aquaculture development in the Caribbean ACP states. Milton Haughton, CRFM

Opportunities for aquaculture development in the Caribbean

ACP States

Milton HaughtonExecutive Director CRFM Secretariat

Belize

Source: CLME project doc

Background CARIFORUM Countries = SIDs Reliance on aquatic resources for

livelihood and food securityThreats – climate change, marine pollution,

habitat degradation, over-fishing, High unemployment (14-15%)High Food import billStrategic location between major

international markets

Caribbean ACP States

Area (km2) Population(2012) (000)

Pop Density (/km2)

GDP/Capita (US$)

Per Capita Fish Consumption

Antigua 443 88 198.6 13,429 77Bahamas 13,940 352 25.2 22,832 32Barbados 431 278 645.0 16,152 31Belize 22,966 343 14.9 4,536 7Dominica 750 71 94.7 7,022 19Dominican Republic

48,730 10,237 210.1 5,763

Grenada 344 105 305.2 7,497 31Guyana 214,970 775 3.6 3,596 29Haiti 27,750 10,413 375.2 759 3Jamaica 10,991 2,752 250.4 5,541 16St. Kitts 360 57 158.3 12,804 34St. Lucia 616 168 272.7 7,276 21St. Vincent 340 110 323.5 6,489 13Suriname 163,820 546 3.3 8,686 10Trinidad 5,128 1,329 259.2 19,018 15

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database April 2013

Fisheries Strategically Important

1. Employment: up to 182,0002. Total Fish Production 176,213 MT 3. Aquaculture production – 11,000 MT4. Exports: 61,000 MT (~US$250 million)5. Imports: 117,000 MT (~ US$343 million)6. Livelihood Opportunities

- poor, - vulnerable

7. Food and nutrition security

Fish Imports (MT)Year 2006 2007 2008 2009Quantity 112,198 123,122 116,312 117,252 Value (US$ 000) 270,594 302,593 346,718 343,098

Overall Food Import bill CARIFORUM States:• US$ 4.75 billion/yr • Can aquaculture

help?

Dom Rep 42,473

Jamaica 27,438

Haiti 13,535

Trinidad 8,877

PROCESSING- Subsector

Employment opportunity for women

Guyana

Belize

Photo – Courtesy Fisheries Dept, Belize

Aquaculture has the potential to makegreater contribution to economic & socialdevelopment if appropriate policy frameworks and incentives are provided

Shrimp farm in Belize

Gov Jamaica - AquacultureResearch Station

Tilapia BelizePhoto Courtesy of Fisheries Dept. Belize

Current State of Aquaculture Development

• Not well developed - Low production • 14,146 MT per year from 2000 -2010• Belize and Jamaica exception• Production peaked at 18,879 MT in 2004• Declined since 2007 to < 10,000 MT • Recent trend – economic downturn

Sea mosscommodities produced in Antigua.Photo – Courtesy Fisheries Div. Antigua & Barbuda

Aquaculture ProductionCARIFORUM States 2000-2011 (MT)

2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

Source: FAO database

Aquaculture Production Per Country MT (2000-2011)

Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Dom Rep. Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica St Kitts/Nevis

St Lucia Suriname Trinidad0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

101 20

71044

256

17089

4

5911

1641

52123

1 362035

115

Source: FAO database

Main Producers – MT (2009)Belize 5290

Jamaica 5141

Dominican Republic 240

Guyana 511

Haiti 400

Suriname 41

What are the Main Species?Belize Marine shrimp (L. vamamaei), Tilapia ,

Cobia (Rachycentrom canadum) (Pompano)Jamaica Tilapia, marine & freshwater shrimp,

oysters, several aquarium spp.Dominican Republic

Marine & freshwater shrimp, Carp, Tilapia, (Colossoma, Cobia, Pompano)

GuyanaTilapia, Colossoma, various indigenous shrimp (schmitti, P. aztecus & P. braziliensis) & fish (hassar, bashaw)

Haiti Tilapia, carpSuriname Tilapia & marine shrimp (L. vanamaei)

Seaweed farming Antigua:Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Div. Antigua Cobia farming Belize:

Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Dept. Belize

Aquarium Fish farming JamaicaTilapia Belize

What about smaller Islands?

• Current activities – tilapia, seaweed, shrimp• Limitations – land, fresh water, human• Outlook

Tilapia farming in seawater – St. Kitts

Seaweed farming in St. Lucia

Cobia farming in seawater

Photo: Fisheries Dept, Belize

What are the Main Constraints? High input cost (energy, feed, land …) High cost of credit Seed supply Competition from imports from Asia & S. America Health and Food Safety Systems R & D, Extension & Support Services Lack of Skilled & Quality Human Resources Natural disaster – storms & hurricanes Water management systems Policy and legislation

Are States still Interested?Contribute to economic developmentCreate employment opportunities

throughout the value chain Increase local supply of fish Improve food & nutrition securityPoverty reductionRevitalize coastal & rural communitiesDiversify economy & build resilienceEarn hard currency - export-oriented

Where do we go from here:Regional Policy Framework

Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas - CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME):

• Entered in force 1 Jan 2006• Enlarged market among member states• Opportunities to produce & sell goods

& services & attract investment

Photo Courtesy of Fisheries Dept. Belize

Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy

Treaty - Endorsed 2011 Key Provisions

Objective & Scope “sustainable development of fishing and aquaculture” . ..“production, processing, marketing and trading of fishery and aquaculture products”

Several substantive provisions aquacultureArt. 10 Sector Development

Joint venture, capacity development, improving the business, financial and insurance

environment

CRFM Strategic Plan 2013 -2021

Objective D: Development of Aquaculture Note lack of growth past 10 years & agree to

intensify efforts to expand productionA strategy to increase supply of fishAdopt Ecosystem approach to aquacultureEstablish Regional Working GroupEnabling policy and legal frameworksVoluntary guidelines, best management

practices and standards

National Policy – ACP Fish II CAR-3.1-B12: Strategic assessment of the

aquaculture potential in Haiti

CAR-1.4-B4a: aquaculture land and water use development plan for Jamaica

CAR-1.4-B4b: Aquaculture development strategy for St. Kitts and Nevis

Fisheries and aquaculture policy Dominica Grenada, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Support to formulate a fisheries and aquaculture policy for the Dominican Republic

Recent Donor Supported Initiatives

ACP Fish II Programme – Component 1 – policy and legislation

JICA Master Plan for Coastal Resource Management

USAID, and FAO Support to GuyanaTiawanese support to St.Lucia, Dominica

and Belize

CONCLUSIONSignificant opportunities in the CaribbeanGrowing interest in aquaculture Important role in food security, poverty

reduction, employment, & blue economyRealistic dialogue – recognize:

- Needs, opportunities, limitations - Dangers of unregulated, poorly planned

Need for R&D, capacity development, strategic partnerships & funding support

Thank you!!