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ROSEAU, Dominica -- The second joint meeting of the CRFM/CLME flyingfish (FF) and large pelagic fisheries (LP) case studies steering committees opened on Monday in Roseau, Dominica.

The maximum total annual landings of flyingfish in the Eastern Caribbean is 4700 metric tonnes, according to information published by the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) project, one of the organizers of the event.

“The flyingfish fishery of the Eastern Caribbean is a shared resource which is exploited by seven countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica and France (Martinique). For these countries, there is a high social and economic dependence on the fishery,” the CLME added.

Speaking of the large pelagic fishery, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), which is coordinating the Dominica workshop, noted, “The region’s highly migratory tuna and billfish resources are exploited by countries from within the region, as well as by foreign nations. In the insular Caribbean, the fishing of large pelagics is a major tourist and recreational activity although reporting data on this fishery is lacking.”

It added that the case study aims “to develop the information base for improving understanding of selected major large pelagic fisheries, including information on the nature and importance of recreational fishing activities, and to develop recommendations for promoting EAF [Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries] management and governance in respect of large pelagic fisheries.”

Dr Kenneth Darroux, Dominica’s Minister of the Environment, Natural Resources, Physical Planning and Fisheries; his Permanent Secretary Samuel Carrette; and Milton Haughton, executive director of the CRFM Secretariat, were due to address the gathering during the opening ceremonies.

At this week's meetings, the CRFM/CLME Steering Committees will review and endorse the outputs and recommendations of the two case studies, including the proposed Strategic Action Programme for each of the two Fisheries. The flyingfish case study was due to be discussed on Monday, and the large pelagic fishery on Tuesday.

Participants include national and regional technical and scientific fishery experts who have responsibility for conducting fishery research and fishery assessment activities, and for formulating fisheries management advice.

The CLME Case Study Steering Committees were established in 2011 to provide guidance to the CRFM and participating States on the implementation of the case studies in keeping with the approved research proposal and grant agreement between UNOPS and the CRFM Secretariat.

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