Building the professional capacities of the Seabob Working Group (SWG) and the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation (GNFO)

Guyana’s seabob (Xiphopenaeus kroyer) fishery is a vital contributor to livelihoods and the national economy, supporting both artisanal and industrial operators. In 2012, the Seabob Working Group (SWG) was established to bring together government, industry, and civil society stakeholders, and in 2018 it achieved Marine Stewardship Council certification, marking a milestone in sustainable fisheries management. In 2023, the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation (GNFO), which represents artisanal fishers, formally joined the SWG, strengthening its role as a national multi-stakeholder platform.

Building on these achievements, there is now an important opportunity to enhance the governance, resource-mobilisation, and participation capacities of both the SWG and the GNFO, so they can continue to respond effectively to changing conditions in the fishery and maintain inclusive decision-making. Investing in these capacities will help ensure that artisanal and industrial fishers alike can advance sustainable practices and safeguard the long-term resilience of Guyana’s seabob sector.

About the project

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has been engaged by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under the FISH4ACP initiative, to implement the project “Building the Professional Capacities of the Seabob Working Group (SWG) and the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation (GNFO).”

This initiative supports industrial fishers, artisanal fisherfolk organisations, government, and civil-society stakeholders in Guyana to strengthen governance, management capacity, and inclusive participation in fisheries decision-making. It addresses the need for more effective, representative, and sustainable management of the seabob value chain, especially as artisanal fishers assume a greater role in shaping the sector’s future.

The project provides targeted capacity-building for the SWG and GNFO and promotes collaborative, democratic structures within both bodies so they can jointly lead efforts to advance sustainable fisheries management and resilience in Guyana.

How will this project benefit the Caribbean region?

The project aims to strengthen participatory and inclusive decision-making in Guyana’s seabob fishery by building the capacity of the Seabob Working Group (SWG) to function effectively as a multi-stakeholder body, and of the Guyana National Fisherfolk Organisation to represent artisanal fishers within the SWG. It seeks to ensure meaningful involvement of all key stakeholders, including artisanal fishers and their organisations, providing a practical example of participatory governance that can inform similar initiatives across the Caribbean.

What activities are we undertaking to achieve this?

1. Participatory capacity needs assessments: Reviewing existing strategies, workplans, and governance of both SWG and GNFO to establish a baseline and identify priority needs for strengthening effectiveness and representation.

2. Capacity building for improved governance and management: Delivering tailored training on identified priority needs, which may include resource mobilisation, dispute resolution, communications and advocacy and budgeting and financial reporting to enhance the ability of the SWG and GNFO to function effectively.

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More information about this project

Contact Melanie Andrews-Bacchus, Senior Technical Officer, at melanie@canari.org

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