The transformation of the blue economy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is described as a “new trust” aimed at moving the fisheries sector beyond its historical performance and significantly increasing its economic impact.
Minister of Fisheries Conroy Huggins says a primary objective is to increase the sector’s contribution to the GDP, which has recently hovered around 1% to 1.5%.
By 2026, officials intend to see this figure grow significantly, focusing on generating generational wealth for fishers, vendors, and suppliers.
Huggins told the API that the push toward the blue economy is driven by the fact that the nation’s ocean space is approximately 10 times larger than its land space. This vast marine area provides extensive resources that the government plans to explore and harvest in a sustainable manner to benefit the entire population.
The transformation involves major structural projects. This includes a “total remake” of the Chateaubelair Fishery Center, which has been defunct for over 20 years, and the refurbishment of the Owia center under the Volcano Emergency Recovery Project (VERP).
Other facilities in Calliaqua, Barrouallie, Kingstown, and the Grenadines (Bequia, Canouan, and Union Island) will undergo significant enhancements.
Following the separation of fisheries from agriculture, the government has prioritized stakeholder engagement, including consultations with over 75 stakeholders at the Kingstown Fish Market. Additionally, the government is engaging with international donors for grant funding and soft loans to support the industry’s development.
While the transformation is national, there is a specific focus on the Leeward corridor (South, Central, and North ), where “significant development” is anticipated.
The government expects the entire fisheries sector to be fully transformed by 2028, reaching performance levels comparable to the industry’s peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s.