Abstract

Grenada Fisheries Division in collaboration with Japan International Agency have implemented Caribbean Fisheries Co-Management (CAIRIFICO) Project since May 2013. The target site is Grenville, east coast of Grenada, and the target fishery is fish aggregating devices’ (FADs) fishing. The project aims to develop and implement the co-management of offshore FAD fishery in sustainable manner. Grenville FAD Fishers Organization (GFFO) Inc. was registered as a non-profit organization on October 2014. About 120 fishers belong to GFFO and a weekly meeting is continuously held to discuss issues among them today. Several technical trainings such as the FAD design, contraction and deployment, the vertical dropline fishing and the ice box construction were provided during the project. Though those trainings, fishers improved their fishing techniques and the catch of large tunas has increased by approximately 300 % since 2013. In addition, GFFO established financials mechanism for the sustainable maintenance and additional deployment of FADs. All the members pay an annual member fee (XCD 20) and catch fee (XCD 5 per 50 pound), as a result, about XCD 35,000 is deposited in their special account so far. Co-management activities help uniting fishers and no conflict is observed in Grenville today. The socioeconomic status of offshore fishers was dramatically improved last four years. In addition, the empowerment of fishers spread the vitaliza-tion of entire community.

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