Caribbean Fisherfolk Engage the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries are prominent features of the small island developing states (SIDS) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Small-scale fisheries contribute to foreign exchange earnings, income, food security, employment and culture in most CARICOM SIDS. Fishing industry workers (fisherfolk) and their organisations became engaged in the process of developing the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Alleviation (SSF Guidelines) in 2012. Given the subdued responses of most national fisheries authorities to the SSF Guidelines, these civil society formal and informal groups have become the champions of the Guidelines into the current implementation phase. At the same time, they are struggling to engage with the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP) in an environment of limited policy coherence and collaboration. This case study, conceptually grounded in social-ecological system and resilience thinking, examined the engagement of fisherfolk with the SSF Guidelines through the lens of institutional analysis. Through their activities in communication, advocacy, policy influence and capacity development, we examined patterns of interaction and outcomes. Fisherfolk are demonstrating increasing capacities for self-organisation, advocacy and policy influence, but face a rather passive policy domain in which active engagement with state agencies can be challenging. The SSF Guidelines process has helped to empower fisherfolk, and if they maintain their trajectory they should realise their potential as change agents in Caribbean policy despite the challenges.