FishAdapt Project to Empower Fishers and Protect Marine-Based Livelihoods

Saint Lucia has strengthened its national response to climate change with the launch of the Fish Adapt Project, a major initiative designed to protect the country’s fisheries and aquaculture sector from rising ocean temperatures, stronger storms, and shifting coastal ecosystems. Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the project aims to build resilience among fishers and coastal communities who face increasing climate-related risks.

At an inception workshop with fisheries cooperatives, government agencies, and community partners, stakeholders were introduced to the project’s objectives and implementation plan, emphasizing the urgent need to safeguard marine-based livelihoods.

Chief Fisheries Officer Sarita Williams-Peter highlighted the transformative nature of the initiative. “The entire intention and conceptualization of the FishAdapt project is to bring about real, transformative change within the sector, recognizing the impacts of climate change and climate variability. We are therefore very pleased that the FAO supported Saint Lucia as an accredited entity and secured funds from the Green Climate Fund to assist us in developing and conceptualizing this project, with direct input from the Department of Fisheries and our stakeholders.”she added.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Randall Esnard reaffirmed the project’s alignment with national climate priorities. “This project, as you have heard, is directly aligned with our National Adaptation Plan and the corresponding SASAP for the fisheries sector, as well as our policy for managing climate and disaster risk outlined in the National Fisheries Policy. Policies, as we all know, are only powerful when they are lived, applied, and able to create direct impact on the ground,” explained Dr. Esnard.

As implementation begins, stakeholders expect FishAdapt to strengthen infrastructure, improve resource management, and support long-term sustainability and innovation within the fisheries sectorbenefiting thousands of Saint Lucians who rely on marine resources for their livelihoods.