Parties with an interest in enhancing the sustainability of the fisheries sector in Suriname from different angles gathered at Spice Quest on Wednesday the 27th of November 2024 for the ‘Inception Workshop “Supporting Sustainable Fisheries through Policy Reform” organised under phase II of the BIODEV2030 project.
About BIODEV2030
The Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Development, which we call BIODEV2030 project is an initiative of the French Government, being implemented in 16 pilot countries, and is committed to reverse biodiversity decline before 2030 and restore nature by 2050, this contributes to the strong commitment of 196 countries that adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at COP-15 in 2022. BIODEV2030 is implemented by the IUCN and WWF-France, coordinated by Expertise France and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). In Phase II the project will focus on policy reforms within the fisheries sector that supports the integration of Biodiversity within the Fisheries Sector, in order to halt species and population decline and reduce the risk of ecosystem collapse, both in Guyana and Suriname. This will be done through the creation of a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform that will foster collaboration on proposing policy reforms within the fisheries sector.
Uniting Regional and Global Efforts
Ms. Soraya Wijntuin, Oceans Coordinator of WWF-Guianas and leading the BIODEV2030 project in Suriname, opened the meeting and introduced Ms. Anushka Raghoebarsing, facilitator and consultant for WWF-Guianas on the BIODEV2030 project, who announced H.E. Mr. Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste, France's ambassador to Suriname and Guyana and to the CARICOM, who used his opening remarks to highlight the 30x30 commitment of the KMGBF, urging Guyana and Suriname to participate in the UN Ocean Conference, scheduled for June 2025 in France. The Ambassador also stressed the urgency of regional efforts against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Mr. Zojindra Arjune, Deputy Director of Fisheries at Suriname’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, highlighted the alignment of the fisheries management plan with BIODEV2030 goals, acknowledging the challenge of transforming fisheries into a sustainability model while drawing hope from collective efforts. Mr. Nasser Rodjan, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Living Environment and Ecosystems representing the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment, noted Suriname's exemplary role in biodiversity policy at the last COP in Cali, Colombia.
Ms. Juliette Pawirosonto, WWF-Guianas Finance and Administration Manager, followed by accentuating that “Biodiversity underpins the ecosystems that provide us with food, fiber, water, clean air, and the regulation of climate—fundamental services that we all rely upon every day and many nations, like Suriname, depend on for their economic development”. Ms. Avril Julienne, Project Officer at Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Suriname, concluded by underscoring AFD’s comprehensive support for BIODEV2030 at both local and international levels.
Uniting Minds for Fisheries and Biodiversity
To align attendees and provide an overview of previous efforts, several presentations were held before the working group sessions. These addressed the connection between Suriname’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and sustainable fisheries, the current policy framework for integrating fisheries and biodiversity, and regional trends, developments, and challenges.
Participants were then divided into two working groups tasked with suggesting policy and legislative improvements. Discussions also considered the resources needed and the challenges in securing them. The groups explored ways to better integrate biodiversity into fisheries policy and presented their findings, including unresolved bottlenecks. Financial constraints were highlighted, alongside the shared need for more awareness and improved and transparent collaboration, particularly in data collection, analysis, and enforcement. These aspects will be further examined in upcoming sessions.
Facilitator Ms. Anushka Raghoebarsing praised the valuable input, emphasizing its importance for the follow-up sessions requiring additional preparation and expanded participation, including stakeholders unable to attend this time. Soraya Wijntuin, Oceans Coordinator of WWF-Guianas, concluded the meeting with proposed dates for smaller follow-up sessions in 2025 and expressed gratitude for the active engagement of all attendees.
READ MORE: https://www.biodev2030.org/en/
About BIODEV2030
The Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Development, which we call BIODEV2030 project is an initiative of the French Government, being implemented in 16 pilot countries, and is committed to reverse biodiversity decline before 2030 and restore nature by 2050, this contributes to the strong commitment of 196 countries that adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at COP-15 in 2022. BIODEV2030 is implemented by the IUCN and WWF-France, coordinated by Expertise France and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). In Phase II the project will focus on policy reforms within the fisheries sector that supports the integration of Biodiversity within the Fisheries Sector, in order to halt species and population decline and reduce the risk of ecosystem collapse, both in Guyana and Suriname. This will be done through the creation of a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform that will foster collaboration on proposing policy reforms within the fisheries sector.
Uniting Regional and Global Efforts
Ms. Soraya Wijntuin, Oceans Coordinator of WWF-Guianas and leading the BIODEV2030 project in Suriname, opened the meeting and introduced Ms. Anushka Raghoebarsing, facilitator and consultant for WWF-Guianas on the BIODEV2030 project, who announced H.E. Mr. Nicolas de Bouillane de Lacoste, France's ambassador to Suriname and Guyana and to the CARICOM, who used his opening remarks to highlight the 30x30 commitment of the KMGBF, urging Guyana and Suriname to participate in the UN Ocean Conference, scheduled for June 2025 in France. The Ambassador also stressed the urgency of regional efforts against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Mr. Zojindra Arjune, Deputy Director of Fisheries at Suriname’s Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, highlighted the alignment of the fisheries management plan with BIODEV2030 goals, acknowledging the challenge of transforming fisheries into a sustainability model while drawing hope from collective efforts. Mr. Nasser Rodjan, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Living Environment and Ecosystems representing the Ministry of Spatial Planning and Environment, noted Suriname's exemplary role in biodiversity policy at the last COP in Cali, Colombia.
Ms. Juliette Pawirosonto, WWF-Guianas Finance and Administration Manager, followed by accentuating that “Biodiversity underpins the ecosystems that provide us with food, fiber, water, clean air, and the regulation of climate—fundamental services that we all rely upon every day and many nations, like Suriname, depend on for their economic development”. Ms. Avril Julienne, Project Officer at Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Suriname, concluded by underscoring AFD’s comprehensive support for BIODEV2030 at both local and international levels.
Uniting Minds for Fisheries and Biodiversity
To align attendees and provide an overview of previous efforts, several presentations were held before the working group sessions. These addressed the connection between Suriname’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and sustainable fisheries, the current policy framework for integrating fisheries and biodiversity, and regional trends, developments, and challenges.
Participants were then divided into two working groups tasked with suggesting policy and legislative improvements. Discussions also considered the resources needed and the challenges in securing them. The groups explored ways to better integrate biodiversity into fisheries policy and presented their findings, including unresolved bottlenecks. Financial constraints were highlighted, alongside the shared need for more awareness and improved and transparent collaboration, particularly in data collection, analysis, and enforcement. These aspects will be further examined in upcoming sessions.
Facilitator Ms. Anushka Raghoebarsing praised the valuable input, emphasizing its importance for the follow-up sessions requiring additional preparation and expanded participation, including stakeholders unable to attend this time. Soraya Wijntuin, Oceans Coordinator of WWF-Guianas, concluded the meeting with proposed dates for smaller follow-up sessions in 2025 and expressed gratitude for the active engagement of all attendees.
READ MORE: https://www.biodev2030.org/en/
