Caribbean countries launch multi-million-dollar project to strengthen climate resilience

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and national and regional stakeholders, has launched a US$12.55-million initiative aimed at strengthening climate and disaster resilience in the Caribbean fisheries sector.

The Climate Change Resilience in the Caribbean Fisheries Sector Project (CC4FISH-II), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is expected to benefit more than 21,800 people across Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The project builds on the foundation established by CC4FISH between 2017 and 2022, when the initiative worked across seven Eastern Caribbean countries to assess the fisheries sector’s vulnerability to climate change, strengthen the capacity of fisherfolk and aquaculturists, and advance the integration of climate adaptation into fisheries governance and planning.

The CCCCC said CC4FISH-II responds to the escalating impacts of climate change on Caribbean fisheries, including declining fish resources, loss of marine biodiversity and degradation of Caribbean Sea habitats, all of which affect food security, livelihoods and economic development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The project will work directly with small-scale fisherfolk, boat owners, processors, vendors, traders and coastal fishing communities across the five participating countries, with particular attention to strengthening opportunities, leadership and livelihood resilience for women and youth.

Speaking at the launch workshop on Tuesday, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Lakeyia Joseph, said no single country can address the challenges posed by climate change alone.

“We therefore welcome the opportunity provided by CC4FISH-II to deepen collaboration among countries of the Eastern Caribbean…We must ensure our fisherfolk, fisheries officers and other stakeholders have access to knowledge, tools, technology and training necessary to operate sustainably in an increasingly challenging climate,” Joseph said.

FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Dr Renata Clarke, described CC4FISH-II as an investment in the future of the region.

“It demonstrates the power of regional collaboration in addressing shared challenges facing the Caribbean’s fisheries sector. Together, we can strengthen resilience, protect marine resources, and create lasting benefits for communities throughout the region,” Clarke said.

The CCCCC said fisheries provide food security and income for Caribbean communities and contribute to economic development through tourism and other sectors, but the industry is increasingly exposed to changing ocean conditions, extreme weather events, ecosystem degradation and damage to critical fisheries infrastructure.

CC4FISH-II will respond through practical investments and interventions, including climate-smart vessels and infrastructure, restoration of critical coastal ecosystems, strengthened fisheries planning and disaster-risk management, and improved access to financial and insurance services for fisheries stakeholders.

CCCCC Executive Director Dr Colin Young said the project would focus on protecting livelihoods while helping communities recover more quickly from climate-related shocks.

“Through improved infrastructure, enhanced access to climate-smart fishing practices, and strengthened community-level capacity, we are working to protect and improve livelihood,” Young said.

“We are focused on ensuring that when climate events occur, our fishing communities are not only better protected but also possess the tools to recover faster and adapt more effectively,” he added.

The CCCCC said the project aims to help Caribbean fisheries adapt to climate change over the long term through an ecosystem-based approach.

The work is organised around four main areas: climate-ready boats and infrastructure to provide safer, stronger and more fuel-efficient fishing vessels; stronger fish landing sites, processing facilities and markets that can withstand climate impacts; restoration and monitoring of ecosystems, including damaged coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds; and improved monitoring of the health of coastal and marine ecosystems.

The project will also support better policy and financing by integrating climate adaptation and disaster-risk planning into fisheries policy at the national and regional levels. It will help fisherfolk access insurance and financial services while sharing knowledge, best practices and lessons learned through a regional Community of Practice, allowing solutions developed in participating countries to inform wider Caribbean action.

“By combining innovative technologies with revitalised traditional practices, CC4FISH-II is helping Caribbean fisheries move toward greater resilience, building sustainable livelihoods and strengthening communities’ ability to withstand shocks like climate change,” the CCCCC said.

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