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, this project focused on enhancing 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.

Strengthening these capacities helps 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) was 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 supported 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 addressed the need for more effective, representative, and sustainable management of the seabob value chain, particularly as artisanal fishers assume a greater role in shaping the future of the seabob fishery.

Through targeted capacity-building and facilitation, the project promoted collaborative and democratic structures within both the SWG and GNFO, enabling them to jointly lead efforts to advance sustainable fisheries management and resilience in Guyana.

How did this project benefit the Caribbean region?

The project contributed to strengthening participatory and inclusive decision-making in Guyana’s seabob fishery by supporting the SWG to function more effectively as a multi-stakeholder platform, and the GNFO to better represent artisanal fishers within this platform. It supported more meaningful engagement of fisherfolk and other stakeholders in governance processes and offers a practical example of participatory fisheries governance that may inform similar initiatives across the Caribbean.

What activities were undertaken to achieve this?

1. Participatory capacity needs assessments

CANARI facilitated participatory work planning and capacity needs assessment workshops with both the GNFO and SWG. Through these sessions, participants reviewed organisational performance, governance structures, and existing workplans, and identified and prioritised key capacity gaps to strengthen institutional effectiveness, participation, and long-term sustainability. Reports of these workshops can be found here: GNFO and SWG.

As part of this process, participants co-developed roadmaps and annual workplans to guide strategic capacity development and organisational strengthening.

2. Capacity building for improved governance and management

Building on the priorities identified through the participatory capacity needs assessments and roadmapping processes, CANARI delivered a series of targeted capacity-building workshops for both the GNFO and SWG.

For the GNFO, training focused on strengthening communication and advocacy skills, including developing clear and effective key messages, engaging with stakeholders and decision-makers, and building confidence in media engagement.

For the SWG, training focused on enhancing communication and stakeholder engagement to support more effective collaboration among government, industry, civil society, and fisherfolk stakeholders. Participants strengthened their ability to develop clear and effective key messages, engage with the media, and use communication strategically to improve information sharing and support inclusive decision-making processes.

A joint workshop with GNFO Executive members and SWG representatives also focused on strengthening resource mobilisation capacity. Participants developed a stronger understanding of resource mobilisation as a strategic process, including identifying funding opportunities, building partnerships, and leveraging financial, technical, and in-kind support. They also strengthened their skills in developing funding proposals and aligning resource mobilisation efforts with organisational priorities.

As part of the capacity-building process, participants also co-developed Standing Orders for meetings to support improved organisational governance within both the SWG and GNFO.

More information about this project

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

Related projects

• Developing Organisational Capacity for Ecosystem Stewardship and Livelihoods in Caribbean Small-Scale Fisheries (StewardFish)
• Advancing the ecosystem approach to fisheries for resilient Caribbean coastal communities and livelihoods
• FISH4ACP