The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Trinidad and Tobago as part of the “Enhancing capacity for the adoption and implementation of EAF in the shrimp and ground fish fisheries of the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (EAF4SG)”, project is currently hosting a two-day train-the-trainers workshop to enhance fisheries co-management in that country.

The workshop, which is being held from 6-7 November 2025 at the Natural Sciences Conference Room, The Department of Life Sciences, The Faculty of Science and Technology, UWI, St. Augustine, is being conducted by Dr. Robert Pomeroy, international co-management consultant.

This activity falls under Component 2 of the EAF project, which focuses on strengthening national and sub-regional fisheries governance with emphasis on improving the participation of small-scale fisheries (SSF) stakeholders and minority groups, particularly on building capacity for co-management. A focus is placed on improving representation on, and operationalisation of the National Inter-sectoral Coordination Mechanisms (NICs) for fisheries management in each of the three participating countries which includes Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The two-day train-the-trainers will enhance the capacity of the Fisheries Division’s officers and other fisheries stakeholders in order to develop the co-management process and Fishery Management Advisory Committee sections of the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan in line with the Fisheries Management Bill to support its benefits for fisheries management in Trinidad and Tobago. It will provide: 

• An overview of fisheries co-management;
• Application of co-management for fisheries management in Trinidad and Tobago;
• Discussion of the role and function of co-management in the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan including NICs such as the Working Group and engagement with stakeholders;
• Development of an action plan for fisheries co-management; and
• Discussion and planning for establishment of a Fisheries Advisory Committee or Board when the Fisheries Management Bill is approved.

A cross-section of participants are attending the workshop and include  staff of the Fisheries Division, representatives from Agricultural Planning Division and, Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries (DMRF) of the Tobago House of Assembly, presidents of primary fisherfolk organisations, heads of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including Future Fishers, and Fishermen and Friends of the Sea Trinidad and Tobago Cetacean Sighting Network (TTCSN), among other stakeholders.