Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations

15/08/2026

CNFO'S two representatives completed their program at the Ocean School.

14/08/2026

Day 3 in Sri Lanka at the Ocean School. Today, we joined 80 other participants from different parts of the world to learn more about AquaEcology and the deep connection between fishing, communities, culture and the environment.

As youth members of , we are taking away a lot from this experience, especially the importance of decolonizing our minds and understanding how capitalism and consumerism can shape and threaten the livelihoods, cultures and traditional knowledge of fishing communities.

helps us value traditional ways of fishing and the knowledge that fishing communities have carried across generations.

With one more day to go, we are already thinking about how we can take these lessons back to the CNFO , including the six principles of AquaEcology, and share them with other fisherfolk leaders and youth across the Caribbean.

14/08/2026

We went to Dodanduwa Lagoon in Sri Lanka, where we joined the community in planting mangroves along the lagoon.

14/08/2026

The Rathgama fishing community in Sri Lanka stands as an example of resilience and solidarity.

After the devastating 2004 tsunami, NAFSO (National Fisheries Solidarity Movement), (Our Ocean School host) stepped in to support recovery, donating 30 boats to help fishers rebuild their livelihoods. Similar support reached other affected fishing communities across Sri Lanka as well.

Remarkably, many of those boats are still in use today, nearly two decades later.
🌊

14/08/2026

Galle, one of Sri Lanka's oldest coastal cities, is home to a UNESCO listed fort and a deep, centuries old relationship with the sea.

Along its coastline, the iconic tradition of fishing endures, fishermen perched on wooden poles above the water, a practice born purely from local knowledge of tides and fish behavior.

This, alongside the harbour's fishing communities, reflects generations of -Ecology in practice, knowledge passed down, not taught in classrooms.

As the Ocean School continues here this week in Sri Lanka, Galle stands as a reminder that coastal cities and fishing traditions have always been deeply intertwined. 🌊

12/08/2026

Ayaana and Devon were part of the WFFP Youth Delegation in 2024, where young people at the World Forum of Fisher Peoples - WFFP 8th General Assembly made the important decision that youths should be trained and strengthened to take on greater roles within the fisherfolk movement.

Two years later, that vision has become a reality. With the opening of the WFFP Ocean School in 2026, Ayaana and Devon are among the first from the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) to participate.

The training is from 12th to 15th August 2026 in Sri Lanka.

12/08/2026

🌊 International Youth Day 2026
Some things are carefully planned, while others happen by beautiful coincidence.

This International Youth Day, we are celebrating a very special moment: from 12–15 August 2026, members of the WFFP Global Youth have been invited to Sri Lanka for the first-ever physical session of the WFFP Ocean School.

Our main focus is AquaEcology, exploring how we can strengthen the relationship between aquatic ecosystems, fisher peoples, food sovereignty, and the protection of our waters and livelihoods.

It is a powerful coincidence that this historic first physical Ocean School gathering is taking place during International Youth Day. 🌊✊🏽

04/08/2026

Our global movement, the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), is holding its Coordination Committee Meeting on Pari Island, Indonesia, from 4–9 August 2026.

The meeting brings together Coordination Committee members to shape the movement's priorities for the coming year.

Key agenda items include:

Reviewing the implementation and status of the resolutions adopted at the 8th General Assembly (GA8) in Brazil in 2024, celebrating achievements, and identifying areas that require further action.

Beginning preparations for the 9th General Assembly (GA9) to be held in Turkey in November 2027.

Planning activities for International Fisherwomen's Day on 5 November.

Advancing two major global campaigns: AquaEcology and Resisting Industrial Aquaculture.

Discussing applications for new WFFP members and strengthening the movement through membership expansion.

Deepening engagement with the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) and other allied social movements.

Strengthening organizational development, communications, international advocacy, and global solidarity in defense of the rights of small-scale fisher peoples.

As a member of WFFP we continue to build a stronger, united global movement committed to human rights, food sovereignty, gender justice, and the protection of our waters and communities.

03/08/2026

01/08/2026

Two impactful days completed! 🌊🐟

Over 30–31 July, the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) successfully hosted the Fostering Climate-Resilient Fisheries in the Caribbean workshop in Anguilla, facilitated by Mitchell Lay (Mitch).

During the two-day workshop, fisherfolk and key stakeholders came together to strengthen the resilience of small-scale fisheries in the face of climate change. Participants explored fisheries policies from the global to the national level, learned about CNFO's climate resilience initiatives, discussed the impacts of climate change on fisheries livelihoods, reviewed the results of the Anguilla fisher survey, and worked collaboratively to identify policy gaps and develop an action plan for more resilient fishing communities.

A sincere thank you to all participants for their valuable contributions and active engagement. We also extend our gratitude to our partners, Blue Convergence Fund (BCF), Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF), and the Department of Natural Resources – Fisheries Unit, Anguilla