FAO and the Government of Saint Lucia held the first workshop of the USD 16.7 million FISH-ADAPT Project

Over 55 stakeholders from several government departments in Saint Lucia, including the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development and the Department of Fisheries, representatives from the World Bank UBEC-project, fisherfolk organizations including  the Saint Lucia Fisherfolk Co-operatives Society Ltd, cooperatives, NGOs, and development partners, such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) convened on 26 November at the Bel Jou Hotel for the official Inception Workshop of the USD 16.7 million FISH-ADAPT Project. The project, which was officially launched on July 4, 2025, is primarily funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) with a contribution of USD 14.75 million, the project also benefits from co-financing by the Ministry of Agriculture (USD 307,250) and the Ministry of Finance (USD 1.66 million), signaling the largest fisheries investment project in Saint Lucia.

The workshop hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries familiarized stakeholders with key aspects of the project’s objectives, implementation framework, and expected results; refined implementation approaches to ensure alignment with Saint Lucia’s Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Fisheries Sector and the country’s climate adaptation priorities; and identified synergies with ongoing national programmes and related initiatives to maximize complementarity and impact. It also served as a platform to validate baselines, review the first-year work plan, and clarify institutional roles to support coordinated implementation throughout the five-year project period.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, Dr. Randel Esnard, Deputy Permanent Secretary, highlighted the project’s contribution to advancing national climate priorities. He noted, “This project is directly aligned with our National Adaptation Plan, the Managing Climate and Disaster Risks priority in our National Fisheries Policy, and the Fisheries Sectoral Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan. Policies only matter when they are lived and felt on the ground. FISH-ADAPT aims to do exactly that — strengthening livelihoods and ensuring that Saint Lucia’s fishing communities can continue to provide for themselves and the nation.”

Mrs. Yvette Diei Ouadi, Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer with FAO’s Subregional Office for the Caribbean and Lead Technical Officer for the project highlighted that, “Many of us have been mobilized in the development of this project, and for FAO, this is a game-changer: a project we see as groundbreaking in dealing with challenges in a changing climate Caribbean context. The project tackles artisanal fisheries, value chains, marketing systems, mangroves, corals, vessel design, safety at sea, landing site infrastructure, seamoss cultivation, and more”. She added that, “The project will bring together climate resilience, access to finance, and gender equality — it will span over 5 years and while this may seem far in the future, it is just around the corner. If we look backwards, it is five years ago we were in a global pandemic – and it feels like yesterday.”

Ms. Sarita Williams-Peter, Chief Fisheries Officer, who facilitated the workshop highlighted its transformative potential. “FISH-ADAPT brings the largest climate investment ever directed to our fisheries sector,” she said. “But a project is only as strong as its stakeholders. Today is not just a launch. It is the start of co-creating solutions to safeguard our coastal communities.”

Following the workshop, FAO and the Government of Saint Lucia convened the Second Meeting of the Project Steering Committee (PSC), which endorsed the project’s first-year workplan and strategic plans, including key highlights on procurement and environmental and social safeguards. The PSC reaffirmed the importance of transparent governance and strong coordination as implementation begins.

The FISH-ADAPT Project will directly benefit 10,000 people across Saint Lucia, including the 5,000 fishers, fish workers and aquaculture producers who make up the core of the sector and their households, while indirectly benefitting 62,000 people whose livelihoods are linked to fisheries and coastal ecosystems. This impact will be delivered through concrete, on-the-ground measures that strengthen safety at sea, advance climate-smart aquaculture, improve fisheries infrastructure, restore coastal ecosystems, and support value-chain diversification.

Additionally, the project will introduce targeted interventions that reduce climate risks at 15 landing sites across 600 fishing vessels, and in 25 hectares of mangroves and 7 hectares of coral reef—helping communities better anticipate, monitor and respond to climate impacts. The 62,000 indirect beneficiaries include family members dependent on fishers and fish workers, suppliers of fishing gear and vessel services, and actors in the tourism sector who rely on healthy marine environments and a stable supply of local fish. Farmers and communities in coastal areas will also gain from improved water quality and ecosystem services, supporting more resilient local food systems.

By strengthening natural defenses and critical infrastructure through nature-based solutions, the project will lower climate-related losses and support the long-term stability of local businesses and communities, contributing to more resilient livelihoods for an estimated 62,000 people—equivalent to roughly 39% of Saint Lucia’s population.

FISH-ADAPT also has an interim project Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) in place. The GRM aims to address stakeholder grievances and complaints in a timely and transparent manner. For any grievances, please contact [email protected].