Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean nations share valuable marine fisheries stocks. Professional development to improve management of those fisheries, particularly among island nations, has long been identified as a critical need. Although member nations are eager to promote greater collaboration, synergy, and the sharing of knowledge in the region, they often lack networks and opportunities to achieve these goals.
Florida Sea Grant is building a professional exchange program that offers opportunities for both Florida and Caribbean-based fisheries professionals to spend time in international settings and learn more about promoting practices that encourage sustainable and safe seafood processing.
In 2011, we began a cooperative effort with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, the principal institution governing fishery resources in the Caribbean. This effort led to collaboration on research evaluating the impacts of fish aggregation devices on pelagic fishery resources and the communities that depend on them.
