UN Ocean Conference 2022

Side Event

International and Caribbean efforts to address organised crime in the fishing industry

Norway in cooperation with CARICOM, with UNDP support

29 June 2022

Norway in cooperation with CARICOM, Jamaica, Belize, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and UNDP hosted a high-level side event on fisheries enforcement and the international and regional instruments to cooperatively tackle organized crime in the global fishing industry on 29 June, at Pavilhão de Portugal (Parque das Nações 1990-231) during the UN Ocean Conference 2022.

The side event highlighted international and regional measures to address fisheries crime towards reducing food security threats via the use of innovative digital tools and inter-agency capacity support. Speakers included the Norwegian Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and Ministers of Fisheries representing Belize, Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Agenda

Part 1: INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK

Opening address

Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Norway – H. E Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran

10 mins

Copenhagen Declaration + Norwegian Blue Justice Initiative

Blue Justice Secretariat, Norway – Mr. Gunnar A. Stølsvik

10 mins

Part 2: CARIBBEAN INSTRUMENTS

Regional instruments to address fisheries crime + UNDP support

Chairs remarks: Chief Executive Officer, National Fisheries Authority, Jamaica – Dr. Gavin Bellamy

5 mins

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Jamaica – H.E Pearnel Charles Jr

10 mins

Minister of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, Belize – H.E Andre Perez

10 mins

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry & Labour, St Vincent and the Grenadines – H.E Seboto Caesar

10 mins

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Blue Resilience, Project Manager – Dr. Emma Witbooi

5 mins

Closing remarks

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Assistant Secretary General – Mr. Joseph Cox

5 mins

Deputy Director General, Ministry of Trade, Industry & Fisheries, Section for Fisheries Crime and Compliance – Mr. Olav Henrik Norheim

5 mins