GRÓ FTP fellows’ Capacity Needs Assessment helps inform Caribbean fisheries policy
A training and capacity needs assessment undertaken through a partner collaboration between the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme (GRÓ FTP) was highlighted at the 17th Special Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council held in Jamaica on 28 September 2026. The council is composed of ministers of fisheries of 17 member countries of CariCom with CRFM secretariat as the implementing agency of the council’s deliberation.
The assessment was carried out by Deandra Roberts and Annakay Crawford of Jamaica's National Fisheries Authority, under the supervision of Prof Jón Geir Pétursson from the University of Iceland and Mr. Þór Heiðar Ásgeirsson the director of GRÓ FTP. Deandra and Annakay were nominated by CRFM to participate in the 2025-2026 GRÓ FTP six-month training programme in Iceland. Working with Icelandic experts and CRFM partners, Annakay and Deandra assessed training and capacity development needs among the 17 member states and the CRFM secretariat and their readiness to carry out the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP) which was approved in 2011.
The press release from CRFM secretariat stated:
They [counsil] deliberated on a recently concluded training and capacity needs assessment conducted by the CRFM in partnership with GRÓ Fisheries Training Programme under the auspices of UNESCO. The Council, which had commissioned the assessment, committed to taking prompt action to help bridge the capacity gaps.
At the ministerial meeting, CRFM Member States committed to taking prompt action to address the capacity gaps identified by the assessment, providing an excellent example of how the CRFM-GRÓ FTP partnership is enabling fisheries professionals to contribute directly to regional policy and development priorities.