Meetings Other Relevant Events
The theme of the 67th GCFI conference is “Small islands, big issues: applying fisheries and marine science to solve problems and create opportunities.” The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2014 as the “International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” or IYOS. The SIDS process started in 1994 with the UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS held in Barbados. This resulted in the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS (BPOA) that identifies priorities for addressing the special challenges faced by SIDS. Coastal and marine resources feature prominently in the BPOA and the Caribbean region contains the largest number of SIDS.
In 2014 the 67th GCFI in Barbados will focus on applying fisheries and marine science to solve problems and create opportunities in SIDS and larger countries. The emphasis will be on practical, interdisciplinary and ecosystem-based approaches to science and how these can make a difference in both conservation and development. Addressing the issues of connectivity, fisheries management, conservation, and related issues at GCFI will aid in addressing critical marine resource issues within the Wider Caribbean Region.