Abstract

The artisanal fishery, comprising of about 800 license holders, is an important pillar for the fishing and fish processing industry in Suriname. The fishery contributes to the production and supply of raw materials for both the exporting companies and for local consumption. This subsector has immediate implications for a substantial part of society, in terms of provision of protein, creating jobs and generation of foreign currency. The 2014-2018 Fisheries Management Plan for Suriname was completed in 2013 and sets out the necessary measures to attain the goals as derived from the fisheries policy. As such, the Department of Fisheries supported initiatives aiming to increase the degree of fishers’ organization. Over the period 2016-2017, with the support of several national and regional projects, training, mentoring and capacity building activities were carried out with the artisanal fishers of the coastal districts in Suriname. This resulted in the formal establishment of five fisherfolk organizations. In 2018, representatives from each organization were united in a national umbrella organization called SUNFO, the Suriname National Fisherfolk Organization. SUNFO will contribute to strengthening the capacity of fishermen to participate in fisheries management at national and regional level. Further, as a member of the Caribbean Network of Fishersfolk Organization (CNFO), SUNFO will represent Suriname’s artisanal fishers internationally. The fisherfolk organizations in Suriname aim to improve fishermen’s livelihoods by developing a sustainable and profitable industry through networking, representation and capacity building.

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