Dominica marked World Fisheries Day with a renewed commitment to marine aquaculture and coastal food security, showcasing ongoing projects in farmed fish production and seamoss harvesting as part of the blue economy strategy. The Ministry of Blue and Green Economy highlighted progress in breeding tilapia, red hybrid fish, freshwater prawns, and Yucuma cotoni seamoss, positioning the island as a growing hub for sustainable aquaculture in the Caribbean.
Officials noted that the national expansion of seamoss farming in particular has opened up new income streams for coastal communities. With rising global demand for Caribbean seamoss in the health sector and wellness tourism, local producers are being equipped with modern training and harvesting techniques to meet international quality standards.
The use of sustainable aquaculture ponds and ocean nurseries is being emphasized to protect marine ecosystems. These initiatives are supported by public-private partnerships and regional collaborations aimed at reducing food import dependency and boosting domestic production. The Ministry also encouraged more youth to explore opportunities in aquaculture, citing its potential to create long-term jobs in operations, processing, and export logistics.
In recognizing World Fisheries Day, officials called on the public to support local fishers and producers by choosing sustainably harvested products, and reaffirmed Dominica’s commitment to balancing economic growth with marine conservation efforts.
Plans are underway to update infrastructure at Mahaut, Pointe Michel, and Soufrière fish landing sites, with investments focused on cold storage and processing facilities.
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