Abstract

Small-scale fishers are among the most vulnerable to weather- and climate-related risks. Their vulnerability is magnified as fishing activity is typically conducted outside of the range of terrestrial communications service, and conventional satellite services are generally unaffordable for these fishers. Forecasts of increased intensity of storms in the Caribbean region further increase the risks to small-scale fishers’ lives and further challenge their livelihoods. As telecommunications is essential for all stages of the disaster risk management cycle (mitigation, preparation, response and recovery), it is an integral component of resilience-centric fisheries management. This paper outlines a suite of artefacts and activities recommended as the core telecommunications aspects of fisheries management planning in the Eastern Caribbean. The recommendations are structured around assessment, planning and capacity building with particular emphasis on marine band VHF radio as the communications mode of choice for seafarers. The paper draws on the case of St. Kitts and Nevis to report on prototype assessment and planning instruments and related activities; as well as early insights into a novel model of ICT capacity building for fishers.

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