Abstract

The Marine Resource Governance in the Eastern Caribbean Project (MarGov project) implemented by the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, has been undertaking applied research to address the critical need to build capacity and network connections for adaptation and resilience into present and planned marine resource governance initiatives in the eastern Caribbean. In addition to the academic aspects of the MarGov research programme, small grants to support complementary, high quality applied research integral to the project were made available to project partners. Eight small grants were awarded and implemented by both governmental and non-governmental entities - Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), Barbados Fisheries Advisory Committee (FAC), Grenada Fisheries Division, Sustainable Grenadines (SusGren) project, Caribbean Network of Fisher Folk Organisations (CNFO), St. Lucia Depart-ment of Fisheries and St. Kitts and Nevis Department of Marine Resources. Research focused on fisheries management planning, governance arrangements, participatory decision-making mechanisms for the sea urchin fisheries in Grenada and St. Lucia; strengthening collaboration and developing adaptive capacity of fisher folk and fisher folk organisations in the Grenadines and the region; improving governance through information exchange and demonstration, analysis of institutional frameworks and capacity in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago; and fisheries management planning based on the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) in St. Kitts and Nevis. This paper reports on the outcomes of this research and the small grant experience for the grantees and CERMES.