Enhancing the sustainability of the fisheries sector in the Caribbean with the use of innovative tools such as Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, remote sensing by satellites and Artificial Intelligence (AI) were the focus of the webinar of The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) held on 12 May 2025.
Twenty-nine participants from the fisheries sector from Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago attended. Raymon van Anrooy, FAO’s Senior Fishery Officer, and Sofiya Tumanova, FAO Fisheries Intern, provided extensive information on how these tools simplify fleet monitoring of small fishing vessels and lower associated expenses. Given the Caribbean’s fisheries administrations’ low staffing and financial resources for fisheries management, this webinar proved crucial.
In 2024, the Climate Change Resilience in the Caribbean Fisheries Sector project (CC4FISH-II) created an inventory of fisheries infrastructure in 5 Caribbean nations: Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. This work was expanded upon in the webinar. The inventory was guided by the World Bank/FAO “Fisheries Infrastructure Assessment Tool (FIAT)” and assessed the status and adequacy of the fisheries infrastructure, during which opportunities for future climate-resilient investments were identified.
Among the infrastructure types present in the 5 countries were multipurpose harbours, beach landing sites, and locations featuring slipways, piers, jetties, and breakwaters. For vessels and seafood businesses along the seafood value chain, the fisheries infrastructure offers vital services which contribute to income generation of those in the fisheries sector. Most infrastructure facilities are between 18 and 30 years old and were financed by a combination of donor, private, and public sources. Seventy-six percent of the sites have infrastructure amenities such as freshwater and electrical supplies, ice supply, and areas for boat repairs. Given the challenges Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) experience from natural catastrophes, especially hurricanes, digital tools like GIS mapping can help with planning and investment decisions for climate-proofing the fisheries infrastructures.
The location of the primary fishing sites, the distribution of fishing boats and fishermen, and the amenities offered at each site can all be visually represented, or mapped, to aid in the planning of improvements and investments. The maps provide a clear direct overview of otherwise scattered information. Along with the number of fish landed, the maps can also display the condition of the infrastructure.
Justin Rennie, Chief Fisheries Officer in Grenada, who attended the webinar, acknowledged the value of the maps for fisheries management. He stated, “The Grenada Fisheries Division would be interested in updating the information on the maps from time to time and even adding the economic data by fish landing site.”
Tumanova mentioned the usefulness of infrastructure mapping for prioritising investments, engaging communities in fisheries development planning, for disaster preparedness and risk management, and ecosystem-based fisheries management, for example, zoning. “FAO will be able to assist the Caribbean countries with developing GIS-based maps of fisheries infrastructure, in close collaboration with the Fisheries Divisions and other stakeholders,” she stated.
According to van Anrooy, Tumanova is testing and training an AI model that can recognise fishing boats in satellite imagery. “This process entails separating fishing vessels from ferries, yachts, transport vessels, and other recreational vessels. The model under the test can count different kinds of vessels, give their average sizes, and provide details about their purposes. Training might make the detection technology extremely accurate, and this information will be helpful for updating national vessel records and registrations,” he highlighted.
He noted that it is difficult for fisheries managers to keep track of where and when fishing vessels are operating since small fishing vessels lack Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) or Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS). However, by combining technologies like remote sensing, digital maps such as Google Earth, and artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible to detect and identify fishing vessels.
Caribbean countries are encouraged to further develop these innovative data-driven tools, which can provide low-cost solutions to fisheries management challenges. FAO remains committed to working with the fisheries sector to introduce innovative solutions for fisheries, and in supporting sustainable fisheries development and management.
FAO
Enforcement of Marine PROTECTED Areas and closed seasons should have been part of this meeting. They are essential parts of management.