On 24 June 2026, the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub (BJCH) secretariat, the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) of Jamaica, hosted the Caribbean premiere of the Blue Justice short documentary feature Taking Back Our Oceans in Kingston with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Watch the film at the bottom of the article.
The screening brought together an audience of over 50 persons including representatives from agencies participating in Jamaica’s Multi-Agency Mechanism (MAM) to Combat Illegal Fishing and Transnational Organised Crime in the Fishing Industry; senior government officials, international partners and UNDP. Opening remarks were delivered by Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change; Hon. Franklin Witter, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining; Lesley‑Ann Ennevor, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP Jamaica Multi‑Country Office and Dr. Gavin Bellamy, Chief Executive Officer, National Fisheries Authority.
The event highlighted Jamaica’s leadership in strengthening inter-agency operational cooperation to combat fisheries crime at both the national and regional levels.
Organized crime in fisheries remains a complex challenge, cutting across mandates and requiring coordinated action between authorities responsible for fisheries, enforcement, security, and justice through the value and supply chain.
Through the institutionalization of the MAM, Jamaica has established a structured approach to bring together a full range of institutions, including the Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Port Authority of Jamaica, Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency and the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, improving information sharing, coordination, and operational response to address fisheries crime.
As the host of the BJCH secretariat, Jamaica draws on this experience in coordinating collaboration and facilitating exchange and training across participating countries in the Caribbean region with the support to the UNDP Blue Resilience project.
Support through the Blue Justice Initiative, implemented in partnership with UNDP, continues to strengthen sustainable, country-led efforts to address fisheries crime by linking national action with regional cooperation under the Copenhagen Declaration on Transnational Organized Crime in the Global Fishing Industry.
Reflecting on the event, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Dermon Spence, reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and advancing regional responses to fisheries crime through the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub. He highlighted Jamaica’s role as host of the Hub and its contribution to supporting cooperation, knowledge exchange and operational collaboration across the Caribbean region.
Photo: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Jamaica
“The fight against fisheries crime cannot be addressed in isolation, as the Caribbean shares marine resources, maritime spaces and common vulnerabilities, making regional cooperation indispensable to safeguarding our fisheries, the livelihoods of our fishers and food security. As the documentary Taking Back Our Oceans powerfully illustrates, Jamaica has demonstrated through our Multi-Agency Mechanism what coordinated inter-agency action can achieve at the national level, and as host of the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub, we are proud to facilitate that same spirit of collaboration, information sharing and capacity building across the region.
Addressing fisheries crime is fundamental to the Ministry’s commitment to sustainable fisheries management and food and nutrition security. Therefore, I encourage all participating countries, regional institutions, enforcement agencies and development partners to deepen their commitment to collective action and shared responsibility. By working together and strengthening regional cooperation, we can better protect our fisheries and marine resources, support the livelihoods of our fishers and ensure the food security and well-being of our people for generations to come.”
Fisheries crime threatens livelihoods, food security, natural resources and national security across the Caribbean. The documentary highlighted how Jamaica and other Caribbean countries are translating regional commitments into practical action through stronger cooperation, intelligence sharing and capacity building, supported by the Norway Blue Justice Initiative and UNDP.
Featured Image Above: From left: Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change; Richard King, National Fisheries Authority Board Member; Ambassador Shorna-Kay Richards, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Dr Gavin Bellamy, CEO, National Fisheries Authority; Lesley-Ann Ennevor, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative; and Hon. Franklin Witter, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.