Ocean Governance and Fisheries Sector Reform - SDG 14 . C

#SDGAction42965

Description

Intro

Goal 14, Target indicator 14. C. 
 
Grenada is a signatory to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea and has ratified the Convention in 1991. 
 
Till 2016 Grenada was not a party to the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), the 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement, the 2009 Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA). 
 
While Grenada is also one of the leading exporters of tuna in the OECS, and a leader in the longline fishing industry, Grenada also has not been a party to 1966 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) till 2016.

Objective of the practice

Challenges: despite regional and international efforts and national awareness on ocean-related instruments that shall guide Grenada’s Fisheries and ocean law and governance reforms and actions, actions at national fisheries sector division level were not forthcoming. The views of ICCAT and RFMO and Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism is that states are lacking interest in updating their fisheries regulations and this is hampering fishing nation. Grenada was also notified of its possible tuna trade sanctions, due to lack of cooperation. 
 
Objective: High-level governance reform across sectors to create room for SDG 14 reforms. 
 
In June 2016 Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell announced a third re-shuffle of his administration, where his objectives are to advance reforms and transformation across all sectors of his government. He was informed of the various barriers in advancing fisheries reforms and lack of processes and progress towards adopting the international legal reforms for sustainable fisheries nationally and regionally. The government was also informed that slow fisheries legal framework development and modernization in Grenada is giving opportunities for irregularities in the system, illegal fishing practices. Such practices had been causing losses in income and livelihoods for legitimate fishers and undermined the morale of fishers, stakeholders in the fisheries value chain. Further, this was undermining the international development efforts. 
 
Making Effective Response at the Highest Political level for the SDGs/2030 Agenda 
 
In September 2016, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell further announced specific changes in the re-shuffle of fisheries sector administration. He demonstrated the application of Sustainable Development SDG Goal 16, a necessary goal for making shifts in ocean governance reforms. 
 
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell has since then pushed for quality governance and the effectiveness of public institutions of his administrations, as they are also crucial for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda. 
 
In November 2016, under the Prime Minister reform and transformation vision, the Ministry for Agriculture, Lands Forestry & Fisheries of the Government of Grenada partnered with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Ocean Partnership for Sustainable Fisheries and Biodiversity Conservation Models for Innovation and Reform (ABNJ), The Caribbean Billfish Project. This project outputs are based on the report of the economic performance of global fisheries, The Sunken Billions: The Economic Justification for Fisheries Reform. The vision to change the direction of development assistance in support of international fisheries, including by the World Bank, which established reform of fisheries governance as the fundamental entry point to its fisheries investment programs. 
 
One of the outputs of this project is to modernizing Grenada’s fisheries legal Framework and assist Grenada progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing three agreements, ICCAT and UNFSA and the implementation of the PSMA.

Partners

1. Fishers and grassroots communities – and stakeholders involved in the value chain of fisheries including small-scale fishers
2. The project was implemented via the letter of agreement of between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Ministry of Agriculture, Lands Forestry & Fisheries: Fisheries Division Government of Grenada. The LOA provides for the provision of Services to conduct pilot development activities for the Regional Subproject for the Western Central Atlantic/Caribbean: Caribbean Billfish Project
3. Through stakeholder coordination meetings, workshops, field trips, FAO in-country missions.
(See more details on video link.)

Implementation of the Project/Activity

The entire project had three main project outputs endorsed for Grenada under the letter of agreement. These are:
1. The national fishery sector policy, management, and institutional and legal framework and updated using UN standard procedure.
2. Conduct at least four billfish fisheries stakeholder coordination meetings to enable and inform adaptive management of billfish resources during the pilot project phase.
3. Innovative management arrangements tested with the agreed fishing gears and technologies purchased and implemented through pilot project trials to support business development through the project.

For the purpose of the high-level forum reporting for indicator 14. C the focus is given here to the legal, regulatory framework, review process and communication procedures to the government.
The Government of Grenada began the high-level political process indicating the need for updating their fisheries law and develop supporting regulations to bring them in line with international obligations, SDG goals, and the 2030 agenda as of 2017.

The project activities, awareness, training, and guidance were delivered on the three instruments listed below to important fisheries stakeholders by the legal team and CBF technical team and national consultant.

1. The 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
2. The International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
3. The 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law Of The Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. (UNFSA)

The FAO project national consultant worked with the relevant ministries in providing the technical expertise needed to advise and guide the Cabinet members decisions, in Grenada becoming party to the relevant instruments.

The Development Law Service of the FAO Legal Office under the Caribbean Billfish Project (CBF) prepared the preliminary review of Grenada’s fisheries and related legislation based on the request from the Government of Grenada in 2017 under its vision of the fisheries sector reform.

The project process and findings were informed to the government via state-level processes such as the cabinet submission and mentions.

Under the guidance and supervision of the FAO Legal Office, Development Law Service national lawyer in Grenada reviewed the fisheries legislation assessment report prepared by FAO Project, and provided comments to finalize the draft report and regulations. The legal review findings have been discussed with stakeholders and relevant government authorities at multiple stages of the review process.

The final fisheries legal framework assessment report is currently with FAO’s legal service for clearance. This will further then guide the government in advancing its fisheries sector reform in 2019.

Results/Outputs/Impacts

Project Results
• In 2016 Grenada became party to 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
• In 2017 – Grenada became party to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).
• In 2018 – Grenada accepted to become parties to 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law Of The Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (UNFSA)
Impacts
Grenada progress in becoming parties to ocean-related instruments and advancement in the sustainable uses of Grenada’s marine resources through national reforms has positive relationships across all SDGs and equips Grenada for strong negotiating positions at all levels.

One of the primary focuses of the government of Grenada is to further develop the fishing industry by adopting measures to increase fish exports and enhance fishery trade value. Grenada also has led national initiatives to develop the blue economy. Grenada has established a master plan for blue growth for its marine and coastal environments, focusing on fisheries and aquaculture, renewable energy, blue biotechnology and research and innovation. It includes a vision for the ocean economy, guiding principles, policy goals, and objective.

In 2018, Government of Grenada reformed the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands Forestry & Fisheries to The Ministry of climate resilience, environment forestry, and fisheries and disaster management (new name as of March 2018) is the parent Ministry of the Fisheries Division. This reform will allow the Government to incorporate climate change impact and the consequent vulnerability of the fisheries sector, to increase the climate resilience of fisherfolk and increase capacity to manage short- and long-term climate risks and reduce damages and losses from weather-related disasters within decision-making processes.

The final fisheries legal framework assessment report under the FAO project is currently with FAO’s legal service for clearance. This will further guide the government of Grenada in 2019 for national actions in reforms reflecting the above impacts.
This will soon be upcoming on the web.http://www.fao.org/in-action/commonoceans/news/detail-events/en/c/11763…

Many levels of national stakeholder consultations had been conducted to reach the final assessment.
The assessment report guides Grenada fisheries sector legal reform with modern fisheries legislation that enshrine the principles such as the ecosystem approach to fisheries and the precautionary approach and include language about sustainability, responsible management and conservation, including scientifically-informed management decisions, the promotion of food security and nutrition, the development of good governance and acknowledgement of the need to incorporate climate change impacts all of which is necessary for the legal and policy framework for transitioning towards blue economy for SIDS.

In June 2018, The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a US$30 million Development Policy Credit to support Grenada in strengthening its climate and fiscal resilience and helping the country transition to a blue economy. A successful transition via legal reforms to a blue economy supports the SDG 14 goals.

Enabling factors and constraints

o Political Will. The highest level of political will, actions of reforms initiated by the Prime Minister and his support provided at various decision making level.
• Funding and legal support provided by FAO under the Caribbean Billfish Project.
• High-level technical support, policy brief, communication and negotiation provided by the UN Nippon Fellow of Grenada together with FAO team on ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea to the respective government officials, ministries and decision makers.
• Support from Government, fisheries stakeholder, and private sector, in understanding the need in the harmonization of national laws with relevant provisions and uniform and consistent application of these provisions.

Sustainability and replicability

Learning from Grenada’s PM reforms, sustainability and replicability efforts for SDG 14 and in particular 14. C, reforms need political leadership, by heads of government and, subsequently, through ministerial action, has proven to be a critical catalyst and driver of successful efforts to bring reform for Goal 14. C targets.

The high level political leadership has been particularly crucial, as multiple marine activities, including aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine conservation, shipping and marine (all other SDF 14 targets and indicators) often occur in the same maritime space, competing for policy attention and prioritization, and budgetary and other resources, necessitating clear political leadership and decision making for SIDS.

While Grenada PM is leading the high-level political leadership in national level reform across sector he has been very instrumental in delivering the means of implementation for SDG 14. C - Ocean governance reform.

Conclusions

For SIDS in moving into 2030 and beyond, and in meeting the targets of SDG 14 and its interconnections between SDG 14 and other Goals based on the diverse benefits provided to humankind by marine ecosystems, politics and governance will play a significant role and politicians who strive for inclusive development. 
 
Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) is the main Goal for advancing good governance and -corruption. It sets 12 specific targets to be achieved by countries by 2030. These have to be interconnected in aiding countries to progress and advance towards national and ocean governance reforms. High-level decision-makers need to consider the interplay of SDG 16 and 14 for delivering the means of implementation of SDG 14 – targets. 
 
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell political leadership is a demonstration of ‘smart environmental, economic and social leadership in implementing SDG 14 in particular 14.C indicators. 
By establishing The Ministry of Climate Resilience, Environment Forestry, and Fisheries and Disaster management he and his government has demonstrated a model in interconnecting and mainstreaming climate change with oceans agenda and has delivered a reform reflecting on “Because of the Ocean Declaration”. These are promising reforms and in-country development that shows national prioritization and country ownership of the 2030 Agenda. 
 
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada shall be invited to share his experience to the high-level forum with other SIDS leaders.

Other sources of information

Project details and partnership and outputs can be found here.
Project details : http://www.fao.org/in-action/commonoceans/projects/ocean-partnerships/e…
http://www.fao.org/in-action/commonoceans/news/detail-events/en/c/11763…
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcNZ7M0TDmc

SDGS & Targets

Goal 15

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 9

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 4

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 2

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 10

Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 16

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Goal 17

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Goal 1

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Goal 12

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 3

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Goal 14

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Deliverables & Timeline

N/A

Resources mobilized

Resources

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Partnership Progress

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Name	Description
14.c	Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

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