St. John’s Antigua- Minister of Agriculture Hilson Baptiste is attending the Sixth Ministerial Council Meeting of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Secretariat (CRFMS) in Nassau, Bahamas today. Minister Baptiste is the outgoing chairman, having served a two-year term.

During the session, Baptiste will officially hand over the reins of CRFMS to newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government V Alfred Gray of The Bahamas.

During his tenure, Minister Baptiste oversaw the passage of the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy, which had been in the pipeline for six years prior to his chairmanship. The policy is adhered to by all the member states.

The policy, adhered to by all Caricom members, considers the interdependency of the member states and encourages conservation and the sustainable use of the marine resource and cooperation among the territories. The policy also enables them to collaborate in areas of research.

The members states also jointly control and monitor access to the waters under their jurisdiction by vessels from other states, and enforce conservation and protective measures as are applicable.

Minister Baptiste will also engage in a series of meetings while in The Bahamas.