Fisherfolk leaders from five fishing communities in Suriname agreed to form a national fisherfolk association within the next year to strengthen their voices in fisheries governance.  The national fisherfolk association would seek to engage with the Fisheries Department and other key stakeholders in the development and implementation of fisheries and related policies, legislation and Draft Fisheries Management Plan that would enable sustainable development of the fishing industry.  The fishing industry is one of the top five contributors to the GDP in Suriname, but it has been plagued by high fishing pressure and illegal fishing in recent years.

“An association will help us to better help ourselves,” said one of the 12 fisherfolk leaders attending the final two-day national fisherfolk workshop in Suriname, that is part of the four-year project Strengthening Caribbean Fisherfolk to Participate in Governance.  “I am happy that the fisherfolk are finally coming out [to meetings] and…