Belize's Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, Andre Perez, has called on Caribbean governments to do more for the region's fisherfolk, arguing that sustainable fishing needs real political and financial backing — not just good intentions. He made the appeal at the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture in Jamaica, which ran from September 27 to October 2.
The timing matters. While in Jamaica, Perez also sat in on the 17th Special Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), where ministers approved three new protocols under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy. One covers marine spatial planning — essentially deciding who gets to use which patch of ocean and for what. A second introduces traceability standards for aquatic foods, so consumers and markets can trust where Caribbean seafood comes from. The third targets illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the practice that quietly drains fish stocks and undercuts legitimate fishermen.
CRFM Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams framed the package as a step change for the region: better management of competing ocean uses, more transparency in Caribbean seafood, and stronger protection against illegal operations. The payoff, he argued, reaches beyond the fishing industry — safeguarding livelihoods, improving market access, and shoring up food security for coastal communities.
Belize had more than one voice at the table. Agriculture Minister Rodwell Ferguson promoted the country's investment incentives, noting that private investors partnering with the public sector can access tax exemptions through Beltraide, the government's investment unit. Wider discussions at the event covered mobilising private capital and cutting down sanitary and phytosanitary barriers that complicate trade in food products between Caribbean nations.
Why should a traveller care? Because the health of Caribbean fisheries and the health of Caribbean tourism are deeply linked. Belize's barrier reef — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country's biggest draws — depends on well-managed waters, and the same rules that keep fishing sustainable help keep snorkelling, diving and sportfishing viable. Traceability standards also mean the seafood you eat at a beach restaurant in San Pedro or Placencia is more likely to be honestly sourced and locally caught. And a blue economy that works for fisherfolk keeps coastal towns authentic rather than hollowed out. The direction of travel here is good news for anyone planning a trip around the region's reefs and fishing villages.
