Client

 

Slow Fish Caribe / Slow Food

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Purpose & process

 

Catalys supported the evaluation of Slow Fish Caribe’s initiative to develop consolidated models for sustainable fisheries to the benefit of fragile coastal biodiversity and fishing communities in the South East Caribbean.

 

The project has been working since 2017 in the Sian Ka’an and Banco Chichorro Biosphere Reserves on the coast of Mexico; and in the Colombian Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, home to the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.  The aim is to promote models of sustainable fishing within the area's biodiverse coral reef ecosystems, which are suffering from overexploitation. The project was implemented by Slow Food in conjunction with 4 main partners and 13 further collaborating entities in the Caribbean. The project's aims are:

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• Promotion of traditional knowledge and consolidation of technical and administrative expertise of benefiting the target communities to improve management and use of marine and coastal resources and diversify the communities’ economic activities; hence to reduce the extraction of resources.

• Increase economic and social wellbeing of local communities alongside sustainable management of coastal resources through the sustainable use of local seafood resources as the driving force of local development with a cultural identity.

• Increase access to knowledge, experiences and results of different models of intervention in protected areas, spreading best practices in the Caribbean region, beginning with Slow Food’s Slow Fish Caribbean network.

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Catalys were asked to undertake an evaluation over a 3 year period which enabled us to review progress toward the project's objectives during implementation as well as at its end.  This was particularly helpful as it meant that as evaluators we could comment on progress and assist with recommendations for change during implementation.

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Catalys also worked with Slow Fish Caribe to support the review of the policy framework for the fisheries in Colombia and Mexico.  A detailed review was undertaken and recommendations made.  The process followed being mapped out below.

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Broadly, the review was a three-phase process undertaken in preparing the recommendations for the project. This was comprised of a review of the available information, identification and interview of internal and external experts, workshop with community actors and the preparation of recommendations validated by all parties involved. 

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Outcome

 

Overall, the project delivered in its key objectives. The first of which was to improve the management and use of marine-coastal natural resources and diversify activities communities to reduce the extraction of resources by strengthening capacities of beneficiary communities both within and surrounding protected areas of Columbia and Mexico.  Our survey established that the project had made concrete steps in this direction.

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The second key aim of the project was to increase the economic and social well-being of local communities and their commitment to conservation and promote the sustainable management of marine-coastal biodiversity, through the responsible use of local food resources as an engine of territorial development with cultural identity.  Over 70% of the participants believed the approach of the project was going to be positive for the socio-economic well-being, a proportion that increased dring the project.

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The final objective was to offer wide access to the knowledge, experiences and results of the Intervention Models in protected areas to disseminate good practices in the Caribbean region, based on current and future members of the Slow Fish Caribe network of Slow Food.  Over 60% believed it would assist the development of a Slow Fish Caribe network, this proportion grew during the course of the project, thereby supporting achievement of the 3rd objective to help establish the Slow Fish Caribe network.

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Overall, our input has led to learning amongst the project partners and to ultimately to the development of public policies to encourage decision-making bodies to adopt more sensitive approaches to local seafood products, whilst preserve the culture of the territory and the respecting communities' demands communities conservation of their incredible, but fragile coastal biodiversity. 

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