It is a truism that the seas are critical to Jamaica’s and the Caribbean’s economic survival. But the data paints the picture starkly.

According to the World Bank, the blue economy contributes an estimated US$407 billion annually to the wider Caribbean. Coral reefs alone contribute an estimated US$4 billion each year, through fisheries, tourism and coastal protection.

Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that fish supplies nearly 20 per cent of animal protein consumption. In this region, the figure is estimated to be 10 per cent to 35 per cent of total per capita animal protein intake. Indeed, Caribbean coastal communities remain heavily dependent on fisheries, not only for nutrition but also employment.