A dual-island nation located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Saint Kitts and Nevis boasts a representative cross-section of Caribbean marine life, including endangered corals, marine mammals and sea turtles. Commercial and artisanal fisheries form a significant part of the local economy, but have declined sharply in recent years, with fishers reporting smaller catches of conch, lobster, and fishes. There are many threats to the marine ecology of the islands that have contributed to this scenario, including coastal development, unsustainable fisheries practices, land-based sources of pollution, rising ocean temperatures, and the increasing intensity of hurricanes and other storm events driven by climate change.
The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has been able to further expand its approach to address some of these marine conservation challenges through a strategic partnership with the UNDP/GEF/UNOPS PROCARIBE+ Project, an initiative focused on building resilience and enhancing ocean conservation in the wider Caribbean region.
After launching the community component of PROCARIBE+ in Saint Kitts and Nevis in October 2024, SGP facilitated consultative meetings with experts, government, and civil society to develop an inclusive strategy, fostering strong partnerships with key government agencies including the Department of Marine Resources, the Department of Environment, and the Department of Community and Social Development. These partnerships are essential for ensuring alignment with national policies and maximizing project impact. SGP is now supporting three community-led projects in Saint Kitts and Nevis with funding from PROCARIBE+ to promote marine conservation, sustainable fishing, and community development.
Photo credit: Juila Volk, St. Kittts and Nevis
The Capisterre Fishermen Marketing and Supplies Cooperative Society is implementing a project focused on raising awareness about the St. Kitts-Nevis Marine Management Area through educational sessions and site visits with neighbouring islands. Observational visits to marine reserves in St. Barts, Saba, and St. Eustatius will allow stakeholders to learn about best practices and share experiences on good ocean governance and marine Protected Area co-management.
The second project is being implemented by CARE SKN (Coral Reef Assistance, Restoration and Education in St. Kitts and Nevis) and aims to farm native Caribbean King Crab to support coral restoration and promote sustainable fishing. The project will also facilitate Reef Check EcoDiver training certification for the local fishers and a week of intensive reef surveys to enhance local marine conservation efforts.
Finally, the third project focuses on using Fish Aggregating Devices in the pelagic zone to reduce pressure on nearshore biodiversity, enhance food security, and create job opportunities in coastal communities. Fishers will be educated on sustainable fishing techniques, while community members will receive training on fish preparation, development of value-added products and marketing. The project is being implemented by the Jessups Community Management Team.
Through these projects, SGP Saint Kitts and Nevis is contributing to PROCARIBE+’s broader goals by strengthening civil society’s role in ocean conservation while promoting economic opportunities for local communities.
About PROCARIBE+
Launched in May 2023, PROCARIBE+ aims to support regional and national-level integrated ocean management, develop sustainable and resilient ocean economies, catalyse regional processes, and establish a regional ocean coordination mechanism to enhance international collaboration for the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the Caribbean and Northern Brazilian Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). This five-year project supports participating countries in regional coordination and collaboration, national capacity building, environmental stress reduction, blue economy, marine planning and conservation, sustainable fisheries, regional marine data infrastructure, and knowledge sharing. PROCARIBE+ is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries, together with several co-executing partners, including the SGP.
SGP is implementing the community component of PROCARIBE+ in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda and Haiti, which focuses on civil society contributions to ocean conservation and blue economies.
Photo credit: Justin Brinkhoff, St. Kitts and Nevis