Caribbean marine resources worth hundreds of millions of dollars

By Michelle Nurse On May 12, 2016

Caribbean countries have a living bank of marine resources from which they collectively cash out hundreds of millions of dollars a year. (Photo via Post Online Media)

They can spend that money to support emerging national economies by providing good jobs, food and foreign exchange, among other benefits.

However, in order to remain active and competitive in the global marketplace, countries have had to find ways to surmount the challenges posed by stringent international standards called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, for food safety and for protection against diseases carried animals and plants, reports CaribbeanNewsNow.

Under an EU-funded SPS Measures Project, the ability of Caribbean countries to effectively address those challenges is being strengthened through initiatives such as specialised training for those gatekeepers who help to ensure the safety of both imported and exported foods.

The project has reached a new milestone, as a group of professionals from CARIFORUM states – the countries which make up the Caribbean Community, as well as the Dominican Republic – has just concluded a sanitary and phytosanitary management course.