Expanding Fisherfolk Livelihood Opportunities through Co-Designed Amendments to Regulations
December 2024 – March 2025
FisherFolkFirst was contracted by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government to find ways the legislation could be changed to improve sustainable livelihood opportunities for fisherfolk. This is what we achieved –
REVIEW
International Examples
We reviewed the context of the current fisheries in the Turks and Caicos Islands, all the relevant legislation that govern fisheries and fisherfolk livelihoods, and we also looked at examples from throughout the world that could be implemented to benefit fishers and fish workers.
CONSULT
We traveled throughout the country talking to fishers, fish workers, processors, middle-persons, sport fishing businesses, and the fishing community at larges, as well as key representatives from the tourist industry and asked them how they thought the regulations could be changed to improve sustainable livelihood opportunities for fisherfolk. We held public meetings and workshops, and launched an online surveys. However, the majority of feedback came from individual meetings with stakeholders. This was expected, because this was the most comfortable setting for candid conversations where individuals felt free to express themselves.
RECOMMEND
We synthesised all of our work into an 86 page report that included 54 specific recommendations. We then crafted these into 30 pages of drafting instructions for amendments to the current legislation. This includes – Regulatory compliance with ICCAT to allow pelagic fisheries to develop | Permitting hybrid tourism-fisheries ventures | Facilitation of smaller-scale seafood processing operations | Legalization of certain fishing techniques and banning of others | Grant program for small-scale fishers | Restructuring of fisheries management policy framework | Mechanism to limit capacity in fisheries | Streamlining issuance of licences | Facilitation of fisheries research | Ticketing system for fisheries officers … and much more
As of June 2025, this is how far along in the process we have progressed.
What will happen in the future?
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
It is expected that the Cabinet will table our recommendations before the end of June. After that, the process of implementing amendments will start. For some of the recommendations that will involve a process of public consultation