A project to restore damaged coastal areas and make conditions safer for seamoss farmers officially launched on Monday, June 1, with a cheque handover ceremony.
The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF) announced that EC$215 000 from the French Development Agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), will support the Marine Debris Removal and Deployment of Sustainable Raft Systems in Savannes Bay – Seamoss Component project.
The project will remove marine debris from about 10 hectares of sea in Savannes Bay and add 20 eco-friendly PVC raft systems to help seamoss farmers and cut down on future marine waste.
The project is also expected to involve fishers and seamoss farmers from the Savannes Bay community, a component Deputy Chief Fisheries Officer Thomas Nelson described as especially timely.
“Savannes Bay has tremendous potential for sustainable seamoss production, but healthy ecosystems are critical to that success,” Nelson noted, acknowledging that marine communities in the area are learning to adapt to climate-related pressures affecting marine livelihoods.
Speaking on the collaborative nature of the project, chair of the SLUNCF Board, Karolin Troubetzkoy, said, “When communities, government agencies, and conservation partners come together with a shared vision, we can create projects that not only restore ecosystems but also create real opportunities for people and communities to thrive.”
SLUNCF says the project is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security.
Funding from the AFD is being channelled through the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund under the Caribbean Regional Architecture for Biodiversity project.
Organisers say the work in Savannes Bay could also serve as a model for other coastal communities, with the opportunity to replicate it in places like Laborie and Dennery.
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