Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, engaged with participants of the Caribbean Fisheries Training and Development Institute’s (CFTDI) Blue Economy Youth Empowerment Project, as the Ministry continues to support the development of a skilled, innovative and future-ready generation for the fisheries, aquaculture and maritime sectors.
The Minister’s engagement provided an opportunity to hear directly from participants from the communities of Sea Lots, Carenage, Cocorite, Alcan, Blanchisseuse, La Fillette, Las Cuevas and Maracas Bay and to observe how the programme is broadening young people’s understanding of the diverse career, enterprise and skills-development opportunities emerging within the country’s Blue Economy.
In addressing participants, Minister Ratiram said that developing the human capital required to support the sector must be treated as a strategic priority.
“When we invest in our young people, we are investing in the future of our fisheries, our maritime industries and our national economy. The Blue Economy is creating opportunities that go far beyond traditional occupations, and our responsibility is to ensure that young people have the skills, knowledge and confidence to participate, innovate and create sustainable livelihoods.”
The initiative, themed “From Coastlines to Careers: Empowering Youth, Strengthening Communities, Transforming Trinidad and Tobago,” creates space for participants to build upon knowledge and experience that already exist within their families and communities, while gaining exposure to contemporary practices, technologies and opportunities within the sector.
Speaking on her experience as a participant, Kimberly Katwaroo of Maracas Bay said the project has provided her with an opportunity to deepen her understanding of an industry that has been part of her family’s livelihood for generations. Her parents, grandparents and other family members have been involved in fishing, vending, fish processing and operating their own businesses.
Through the CFTDI project, Katwaroo said she has gained knowledge that she can apply within her family’s business, including providing informed advice to her parents and contributing more meaningfully to their operations.
Also sharing his appreciation for the initiative was Julien Edwards, President of the Sea Lots Fisherfolk Association, who thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and CFTDI for providing young people with the opportunity to participate in the programme.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Blue Economy is expanding beyond traditional capture fisheries, creating opportunities across aquaculture, seafood processing, marine services, maritime safety, environmental management and technology-enabled operations. Advances in artificial intelligence, satellite technology, remote sensing, digital mapping and data analytics are further transforming the sector and strengthening resource management, traceability, productivity and decision-making.
The CFTDI Blue Economy Youth Empowerment Project is helping to prepare young people to engage with these emerging opportunities through pathways for employment, entrepreneurship, innovation and value creation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries remains committed to partnerships that strengthen youth capacity and support the sustainable development of Trinidad and Tobago’s fisheries and wider Blue Economy.