The specific objectives of the project are: 1.To identify, analyze and agree upon major transboundary issues, root causes and actions required to achieve sustainable management of the shared living marine resources in the Caribbean Sea LME; 2.To improve the shared knowledge base so that sustainable use and management of transboundary living marine resources will be possible; 3.To implement legal, policy and institutional (SAP) reforms regionally and nationally to achieve sustainable transboundary living marine resource management; 4.To develop an institutional and procedural approach to LME level monitoring, evaluation and reporting for management decisionmaking

The UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project is a five-year project that specifically aims at facilitating the implementation of the ten-year politically endorsed Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ SAP). The project seeks to achieve this by facilitating ecosystem based management/an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EBM/EAF) within the CLME+ region, in such a way that a sustainable and climate resilient provision of goods and services from the region’s living marine resources can be secured. Given its regional and comprehensive nature, the UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project is uniquely positioned to address the root causes of environmental degradation, in particular the gaps and weaknesses in transboundary and cross-sectoral governance arrangements. In this same context, the project will assist stakeholders in achieving improved coordination, collaboration and integration among the wide array of ongoing and newly planned projects and initiatives that are of relevance to the wider objectives of the CLME+ SAP.

A preliminary Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) identified three priority transboundary problems that affect the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) and Adjacent Regions: • Unsustainable exploitation of fish and other living marine resources • Habitat degradation and community modification • Pollution The final TDAs prepared under the full-sized CLME Project serve as the scientific basis for the development of an agreed program of interventions (called “SAP”), which may include policy, legal and institutional reforms, conservation measures and pollution control. This Strategic Action Programme (SAP) will document the shared, and commonly-agreed upon vision of the countries participating in the CLME Project with regard to the priority interventions, reforms, and investments that are required to ensure the sustainable provision of goods and services from living marine resources in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). More specifically, the CLME Project will facilitate the strengthening of the governance of key fishery ecosystems in the WCR, at the regional, sub-regional and national levels. For this purpose, CLME will give particular attention to the strengthening of horizontal and vertical (technical and political) linkages between existing structures. To assist this process, the project will create an integrated Information Management System (IMS), bringing together congruent fisheries, biological, pollution, and socio-economic data and information as a powerful management tool. Similarly, a framework for periodic monitoring and evaluation of progress towards the achievement of the CLME goals and objectives will be developed.

The NBS Mangrove Project, was an 18 month project organised under a single component to help establish a shared and multi-national process for an Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) in the NBS. The project recognises the prevalence, socio-ecological importance and connectivity of mangroves in the retention and generation of key ecosystem services (fisheries, coastal protection and defences, water quality, blue carbon etc.) from which communities in the NBS countries are beneficiaries. The countries of Suriname and Guyana were prioritised to consolidate and improve the technical knowledge base necessary to further national and complementary regional coastal management strategies with neighbouring countries Brazil (Amapa state) and French Guiana. In this sense the project builds on, and supports, the antecedents and key elements of the regional agreement established within the CLME+SAP relevant for the NBS region. The objectives of the NBS Mangrove Project are: 1. To generate the necessary baseline knowledge and technical assessments as inputs towards a collaborative vision and a coordinated well-informed management of NBS mangrove systems, with emphasis on the information needs of Guyana and Suriname. 2. To support development of transboundary coordination mechanism(s) between the countries of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil (state of Amapá) towards the improved integrated coastal management of the extensive, ecologically connected yet vulnerable mangrove habitat of the NBS region. The project developed a series of studies and technical outputs to better understand and manage mangrove habitats and coastal ecosystems to the benefit of human well-being in the North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem Region.

This Sub-Project aims at contributing to the delivery of Output 3.2. (O3.2.) under COMPONENT 3 of the main CLME+ Project Document: “Transition to an ecosystem approach for the Eastern Caribbean flyingfish fisheries demonstrated” It has been developed in response to the corresponding calls for action under (a) the CLME+ Strategic Action Programme (SAP), politically endorsed at the regional level in 2013 and (b) the approved Regional Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for Flyingfish in the Eastern Caribbean. More specifically, in the case of the CLME+ SAP, the CLME+ Flyingfish Sub-Project can be linked to SAP Sub-Strategy 5A (and Strategy 5): • Sub-Strategy 5A: Enhance the governance arrangements for implementing an ecosystem approach for flyingfish fisheries • Strategy 5: enhance the governance arrangements for implementing an ecosystem approach for pelagic fisheries. In addition to this, Actions under SAP Strategies 1, 2 and 3, and under CLME+ Project COMPONENTS 1, 2, 4 and 5 will further facilitate the implementation of this Sub-Project, as they help building the support base for its activities, and for the continuation of efforts beyond the Sub-Project’s lifespan. Sub-Project activities will build upon: • the concept of interactive governance, defined as the whole of interactions among public, civil and private actors taken to solve societal problems and to create societal opportunities; including the formulation & application of principles guiding those interactions and care for institutions that enable and control them • the findings from the governance assessments, conducted under the CLME Project (GEF ID 1032) • progress and results from other related regional and national-level efforts Sub-Project activities will further give due attention in the context of interactive governance (societal interactions and the creation of societal opportunities) to gender equality and the empowerment of women. The objectives of the Sub-Project are four-fold, to: a. Foster long-term human well-being of the (direct and indirect) stakeholders of the Eastern Caribbean flyingfish fishery through optimized, sustainable stock management and use b. Full policy cycle implementation at the sub-regional level, through the review, updating, adoption and implementation of the sub-regional management plan for flyingfish fisheries c. Full policy cycle implementation at the national level d. Capture and disseminate best practices and lessons learnt, for the replication and up-scaling of the EAF approach in other CLME+ fisheries These Sub-Project objectives are well aligned with the general management objectives of the approved Sub-Regional Fisheries Management Plan: (a) long-term sustainability of the flyingfish resource (biological objective), (b) optimal use of the flyingfish resource for long-term benefits (socio-economic objective) and (c) sustained ecosystem health (ecological objective). Responsible management in the face of uncertain information on the true status of the flyingfish stock and uncertainties relating to impacts from climate change, requires a precautionary approach.

The Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Fisheries in the Caribbean project aims to improve sustainable fisheries for vulnerable populations in the Caribbean, particularly women and girls, in order to advance gender issues, decent work and youth involvement in sustainable development of fisheries, and comply with the policy statement issues in the 8th Special Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism, which states the following: “the Council accepted that international and national norms regarding issues pertaining to gender, youth, and decent work be adhered to, and be incorporated into all CRFM policies, protocols, programmes and plans”. In this context, UNDP, as a strong UN system organization, already well established in the region, and with strong networks and multi-country projects and programmes across and between the Caribbean SIDS, will implement the resources from Global Affairs Canada, through an existing agreement with CRFM as a delivery mechanism with its 17 AOSIS member states. In this regard, the project will benefit the fisheries sector of the 17 CRFM Member States, specifically fisherfolk, national fisheries agencies and regional organisations charged with supporting fisheries management development in those countries Project Strategy Rationale The project will unite efforts within the already existing CLME+ sub-project “EAF for the Eastern Caribbean Flyingfish” and the Interim Fisheries Coordination Mechanism to build upon these activities, to include gender mainstreaming activities, indicators and results. Given the over-arching goal of the CLME+ project of maximized, sustainable contributions from the resource to human well-being in the region, focus will be on implementation of gender mainstreaming activities, within the components of the already existing flyingfish sub-project, noting that the flyingfish supports important small-scale fisheries in the region, where women have an important role in the processing sector. Outcomes, Outputs and activities Outcome 1. Improved governance for gender – responsive fisheries planning and decision making. Empowering fishery organizations to actively participate in policy dialogue and fisheries governance mechanisms, enabling meaningful participation of women, and youth, and organizing age and gender-sensitive management and leadership trainings. Activities under this outcome are: 1. Determine what gender-related data/research would be most appropriate at this time for “spring-boarding” the development of an evidenced-based gender mainstreaming strategy for fisheries and aquaculture 2. Based on assessments of institutional arrangements (policies, legislation, plans, etc.) to identify the decent work and gender issues/gaps: initiate programmes to create awareness about them; and, devise a strategy/plan for its implementation. 3. Collaboration with CARICOM Secretariat and UN bodies, including UN Women and FAO to lead the effort to develop a gender evaluation tool (or adapt existing ones) to undertake the assessment mentioned. 4. Coordinate identification / appointment of gender focal point in national fisheries authorities, fisheries advisory committees, sustainable ocean governance teams, fisherfolk organisations and other fisheries related agencies and institutional arrangements; and, support their participation in gender workshops or initiatives to further build their capacity to address gender issues, including youth and decent work. 5. Promote application of social science and gender expertise requirements to the recruitment of new staff in CRFM and national and regional fisheries organisations. 6. Develop/adapt and adopt a core set of appropriate indicators in regional strategic programmes (to be used in CLME+ State of the Environment reporting and information portals) 7. Support countries with revision of fisheries and other sector plans along the lines of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) enlightenment and through a gender, decent work and youth lens to ensure integration into the overall national framework(s), in place to address these social issues. 8. Review countries’ compliance with international instruments (such as CEDAW) in relation to fisheries Outcome 2. Enhanced national capacities for mainstreaming gender into fisheries management. Activities under these outcomes are: 1. Organise, in collaboration with appropriate national agencies, awareness training for CRFM and Fisheries Departments/ Division staff, as well as executives of fisherfolk organisations 2. Offer gender-aware capacity development such as fisherfolk leadership courses to actively address equity/equality issues 3. Assist with establishment of regional and national monitoring and evaluation systems to track gender equality and decent work achievements, as well as youth involvement 4. Capture and document traditional knowledge from men and women on aquatic living resource management and fishing techniques 5. Develop updated, broadened and gendered (as appropriate) management recommendations that take into account feasible options for enhanced livelihoods and human well-being 6. Develop, implement and evaluate business proposal aimed at increasing either market or livelihood opportunities from current levels, with special attention to the role of women 7. Train participants in 3 major fishing communities in new business and management skills during implementation phase of business proposal

StewardFish is focused on empowering fisherfolk throughout fisheries value chains to engage in resource management, decision-making processes and sustainable livelihoods, with strengthened institutional support at all levels in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) region.The project is guided by the principles of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) and seeks to promote women’s empowerment through leadership and the importance of social protection for sustainable livelihoods. StewardFish is contributing to the implementation of the CLME+ Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and involves seven Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Member States.

The project will contribute Blue Economic development and implementation plans for the Caribbean/CARICOM region, with tailored national blue economy and financing strategies to support sustainable development, and includes the use of MSP to inform establishment of MPAs and promotion of ecosystem-based fisheries management.

The Parliamentary Conservation Caucus model will be leveraged to raise awareness amongst legislators on blue economy opportunities and Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) Strategic Action Programmes (SAPs), as well as facilitate regional cooperation towards enhanced transboundary marine governance in Latin America and the Caribbean, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. In the Wider Caribbean specifically, active Conservation Caucuses in the Parliaments of Colombia and Mexico will be engaged to strengthen national and regional policy that promotes the implementation of the Cartagena Convention, CLME+ SAP, and other national and/or regional initiatives to strengthen marine conservation.

the Spiny Lobster Sub-Project will contribute to maximize in a sustainable way the contributions of the spiny lobster resource to human well-being and socio-economic development in the CLME+ region, while conserving the structure, diversity and functioning of the ecosystems that host this species