Four French experts of the Research Institute for Development (IRD) and of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) conducted a one-week mission in Haiti, as part of the support of an artisanal fisheries development program, implemented by the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture and funded by the Inter-American development Bank (IDB).

Despite a diverse marine fauna and extensive coastal areas, marine resources of Haiti remain poorly exploited. Precariousness of fishermen, overfishing in coastal areas, the decline of some taken, lack of cold chain or indigence of education to resources in the country in the agronomy faculties are factors that hinder the sustainable development of the sector.

In the absence of reliable data, the mission initially enabled to draw up a first state of the Haitian fishing sector. In interviews with industry players as well as tours of the main sites, the four French experts were able to compile basic data on fishing techniques (seine net, net, line, etc...), the available infrastructure (ports, collection points, cold rooms) or distribution channels (markets).

At term, the establishment of an expert group involving the Ministry of Agriculture, the IDB and the two French research institutes, is expected to deepen the census through the creation of a network of observers and the establishment of statistical tools.

These data will be used to defining by the Ministry of major strategic directions for the reform of the sector: environmental protection, regulation of the taking of protected species and search for economic alternatives, but also strengthening training and institutional governance.

HL/ HaitiLibre