Fisherfolk, boat owners, processors and coastal communities across the Caribbean are set to benefit from a new regional initiative aimed at building climate and disaster resilience in the fisheries sector. The Climate Change Resilience in the Caribbean Fisheries Sector Project (CC4FISH-II) will be launched at an inception meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, Dominica.
The launch is being held in collaboration with Dominica's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy. CC4FISH-II will bring together fisheries authorities, disaster management agencies, environmental ministries, regional and international partners, and civil society from Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Together, they will chart a path toward more resilient fisheries livelihoods across the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem.
The project is executed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serving as the Implementing Agency for the Global Environment Facility (GEF), in collaboration with other regional partners.
Small-scale fisherfolk, boat crews, processors, vendors and coastal households face mounting threats from extreme weather, overfishing, and marine ecosystem decline. CC4FISH-II aims to address these challenges by introducing climate-smart vessels and infrastructure, restoring critical coastal ecosystems, strengthening governance, and opening new financing avenues for fisheries value-chain actors most exposed to climate shocks.
The inception meeting will formally launch the project and set the stage for coordinated action across the participating countries. Media are invited to follow coverage of the event as regional and national stakeholders meet to discuss the way forward.
For Dominica, the launch underscores the importance of the fisheries sector to coastal livelihoods and food security. The island's fisherfolk have long contended with the annual Atlantic hurricane season, which can disrupt fishing activities and damage boats, gear and landing sites. By participating in this regional project, Dominica joins neighbouring states in a collective effort to reduce vulnerability and build a more sustainable future for the sector.
The project's focus on climate-smart vessels and infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, and improved governance reflects a growing recognition that Caribbean fisheries must adapt to a changing climate. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, regional cooperation is seen as essential to protecting the communities that depend on the sea.
Tuesday's meeting at the Fort Young Hotel will bring together stakeholders from across the five participating nations to formally launch CC4FISH-II and begin planning its implementation. Further details on the project's activities and timelines are expected to emerge from the discussions.
