.jpg?sfvrsn=61e1c543_4 "Dr Shelly Ann Cox - A Food Hero: Putting people at the heart of fisheries")
Dr Shelly Ann Cox - A Food Hero: Putting people at the heart of fisheries
As Barbados’ youngest Chief Fisheries Officer, Shelly-Ann Cox helped connect policy, science and the realities of fishing communities, contributing to more sustainable and resilient fisheries in Barbados and across the Caribbean.
Shelly-Ann Cox worked to keep people at the centre of fisheries, connecting the sustainable management of marine resources with the livelihoods and resilience of the communities that depend on them.
© Courtesy of Barbados' Fisheries Division.
29/09/2026
On any given day, Shelly-Ann Cox could have been found where the work of fisheries mattered most: alongside the people whose livelihoods depended on the sea.
She understood that fisheries was never simply boats, fish and the ocean. It was about families putting food on the table, communities nurturing cultural identity and safeguarding heritage, sustaining livelihoods, and a country protecting the marine resources that would sustain generations to come.
As Barbados’ youngest Chief Fisheries Officer, Shelly-Ann Cox worked to make that future more secure. Her work focused on sustainable fisheries management, responsible aquaculture, climate resilience and stronger coastal communities, bringing together fisherfolk, government agencies, regional institutions and international partners to help ensure that the Caribbean’s aquatic resources could continue to nourish its people.
From policy to action
Shelly-Ann worked closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and regional partners to strengthen fisheries governance, improve the collection and use of fisheries data, expand sustainable aquaculture, and build institutional capacity across Barbados and the Caribbean.
Her work drew on science, innovation and collaboration to address challenges facing aquatic food systems. This was evident in her contribution to the development and approval of Barbados’ 2023–2033 Fisheries Policy, an important milestone in the country’s efforts to modernize and strengthen the sector.
Supported by FAO, the policy introduced innovative approaches to the valorization of fish by-products, turning materials once regarded as waste into opportunities for value creation, sustainability and greater efficiency across the fisheries sector.
For Shelly-Ann Cox, policy and action went hand in hand.
She also helped translate policy into action through the development of Barbados’ Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, 2025.
The work built on efforts to modernize fisheries legislation that had begun before the COVID-19 pandemic and continued as Barbados developed its fisheries policy under the StewardFish Project.
Her technical expertise helped guide the process that produced the legislation. The Act strengthened fisheries governance, advanced environmental sustainability, supported greater social protection within the sector and helped Barbados maintain access to international markets, including through compliance with the requirements of the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act.
.jpg?sfvrsn=339bf8aa_2 "Dr Shelly Ann Cox - A Food Hero: Putting people at the heart of fisheries")
.jpeg?sfvrsn=3ad786d7_2 "Dr Shelly Ann Cox - A Food Hero: Putting people at the heart of fisheries")
Close engagement with fishing communities was an important part of Cox’s work, helping connect the realities faced by fisherfolk with fisheries management, resilience and recovery efforts. ©Courtesy of Barbados' Fisheries Division.
Standing with fisherfolk
When Category 4 Hurricane Beryl struck Barbados in 2024, more than 200 fishing vessels were damaged, leaving many members of the fishing community facing uncertainty about their livelihoods. Cox worked closely with affected fisherfolk throughout the recovery process. Her work went beyond replacing boats and equipment, with a focus on building back a fisheries sector that was stronger and better prepared for future shocks.
Her hands-on engagement helped foster trust, collaboration and coordinated action. She listened to fishers, worked across institutions and advocated for solutions that reflected the realities of the people whose livelihoods were at stake.
“Fisheries was more than just a profession to her. It was her passion,” said Yvette Diei Ouadi, FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer and Secretary of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC). “Her leadership and technical work on anchored fish aggregating devices (FADs) reflected her belief that innovation must be grounded in the realities of fishing communities.”
Beyond Barbados, Shelly-Ann contributed her expertise to regional efforts to strengthen fisheries management and cooperation. She connected governments, researchers, fisherfolk organizations, development agencies and international partners around shared challenges including climate change, declining marine resources, food security and the resilience of coastal communities.
Throughout her career, she mentored young professionals and encouraged young people, particularly women, to consider careers in fisheries, aquaculture and marine science. Through regional workshops, technical exchanges and collaborative initiatives, she shared her knowledge and encouraged others to bring new ideas and perspectives to the sector.
.jpeg?sfvrsn=e72afd62_2 "Dr Shelly Ann Cox - A Food Hero: Putting people at the heart of fisheries")
Cox’s work brought together fishing communities, government institutions and partners around shared challenges, including resilience, food security and the sustainable management of marine resources. ©Courtesy of Barbados' Fisheries Division.
A lasting contribution
Her legacy can be seen in the policies she helped to shape, the legislation she helped advance, the partnerships she strengthened and the people she encouraged.
The connection between healthy oceans and the people who depend on them ran through her work. In the communities, institutions and young professionals she supported, that work continues.
Through this work, Shelly-Ann helped strengthen fisheries in Barbados and across the Caribbean, while keeping the people who depend on them at the centre.