Research Projects

Just BE Fisherfolk : Engagement and Activities 

Project announcement

Project launch report

Dedicated project WhatsApp group

Upon project implementation, a project WhatsApp group – the Just BE Fisherfolk WhatsApp group – was started to promote and communicate about the project and its focal areas of climate justice and the Barbados blue economy. Over the period of the project 50 fisherfolk were members of the group. Through this group, the project team shared communications on climate justice projects and initiatives within the Caribbean, relevant open informational meetings and webinars. To increase information sharing, the Just BE Fisherfolk project team, started “Just a bit” - short text and picture posts to be quickly read and shared on fisherfolk injustices in the Caribbean and globally. With each “Just a bit” post, fisherfolk were encouraged to share their thoughts on the issues.

Popular Theatre capacity development

The project provided the opportunity for further capacity building and development of the Popular Theatre group, The Voices From The Shore Theatre Collective (“Voices”), to create a foundation for justice advocacy outside more conventional information channels. The group and its participation techniques were important to Just BE Fisherfolk project activities. The core group grew in size during the project from 3 to 7 women fisherfolk. Popular Theatre capacity building sessions were held once per month but increased in frequency when the group was rehearsing for performances at workshops, meetings or conferences.

Throughout the duration of the Just BE Fisherfolk project, “Voices” has continuously welcomed international visitors to their capacity building sessions to share with them their experiences with Popular Theatre. For example, in October 2024, the group hosted a visiting gender expert and an anthropology expert.

The group took advantage of a number of opportunities for outreach for justice advocacy including participation in the inaugural Caribbean Climate Justice camp, 28-31 March, Sint Maarten; The Fishers Forum at the 77th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI), 4-8 November 2024, Guadeloupe; “Dropbys” at Fisherfolk Month celebrations at fish landing sites in 2024 and 2025; and an invited presentation at the Inaugural Research Frontiers Symposium, 18-19 June 2025, Barbados.

More information on the group and relevant project outputs can be found in the narrative report (See Outputs project page).

Engagement in national initiatives aimed at climate change adaptation and resilience

The implementation of the project was timely given two primary Government of Barbados (GoB) climate change adaptation and resilience initiatives – the development of the first ever national ocean policy (NOP) and an ongoing marine spatial planning (MSP) process. We sought to introduce fisherfolk to these initiatives through regular communications via WhatsApp and small information sharing meetings. A consultation meeting on the Barbados National Ocean Policy (NOP) provided an exclusive project opportunity for fisherfolk to engage in the validation of the draft policy.

Women small-scale fish processors, Sylvia White and Margaret Harding (centre) at the NOP consultation with the consultant (far left) and UWI-CERMES representatives, Maria Pena and Patrick McConney

The MSP Unit held a number of Listening Sessions throughout 2024 and early 2025 by parish to share information on the MSP with the public of Barbados and to listen to their needs and concerns. The Just BE Fisherfolk project team shared the Listening Session announcements with fisherfolk through local WhatsApp groups encouraging them to participate in the event in their parishes. Some fisherfolk attended and vocalised their needs and concerns.

Sheena Griffith, small-scale fish processor making an intervention at a MSP Listening Session at Fishermen’s Pub, St. Peter. Photo credit: B. Simmons

Awareness through internationally celebrated days

Throughout 2024, the Just BE Fisherfolk project team complemented project activities by raising fisherfolk awareness of climate justice, blue justice and social justice through the celebration of International Days, particularly World Day of Social Justice (20 February), International Women’s Day (8 March) and World Oceans Day (8 June).

World Day of Social Justice video production by The Voices From The Shore Theatre Collective

The Barbados fishing industry is struggling to attract youth as new entrants. Some fisherfolk are concerned about the situation and frequently lament, “the industry is dying.” Other fisherfolk are more optimistic and are working towards promoting small-scale fisheries livelihoods to youth in situ at fish markets and in schools. Youth were engaged in the Just BE Fisherfolk project through the Rising Tides Programme.

The two-day session (15-16 April 2025) aimed to develop ocean literacy in youth. The initiative targeted schoolchildren between the ages of 13-18 years from secondary schools and youth groups across Barbados. Twenty-four youth, 21 girls and 3 boys, participated in the sessions held over their Easter Break. Through awareness sessions, hands-on activities, and theatre performances, students explored the connections between fisheries, marine ecosystems, climate change, and coastal livelihoods, equipping them with knowledge and advocacy skills to support ocean sustainability and climate resilience. The deliberate format of the programme progressing from awareness to action was meant to foster both critical thinking and creative engagement, empowering youth to become informed advocates for ocean sustainability critical to achieving climate justice.

Youth visit the Pile Bay fish market

Climate Justice through Strategic and Practical Advocacy short course

Observations by the Just BE Fisherfolk project team indicated that providing fisherfolk with tips on advocacy – both practical and strategic – could be useful in encouraging fisherfolk to collectively represent themselves, tell their stories, and therefore amplify their voices to achieve their fundamental rights within this very critical Barbados blue economy sector. 17 participants (14 women and 3 men) participated in the two-day in-person course (3 and 10 May 2025). Participants were mainly from the post-harvest sector segment of the fisheries value chain in roles such as vendors, small-scale fish processors and marketing. The advocacy training received through the short course, was well received by fisherfolk who called for more trainings in this topic. See Alvarez de La Campa (2025) for a detailed account on the topics and practical exercises covered.

Participants of the short course

Call to action for unity and justice

Another key output for this project, the first of its kind for the Barbados fishing industry, is a Call to Action for unity and justice for fisherfolk in Barbados. The Call to Action was co-developed with fisherfolk based on problems and injustices identified during project activities, particularly, drop-bys, webinars and small grant activities. The Call to Action was then validated with a sample of fisherfolk.

The Call to Action calls specifically on fisherfolk to take 7 main actions:

1. Amplify their voices and demand inclusion in all decisions that may affect the fishing industry.
2. Recognise and celebrate the contribution of women in small-scale fisheries.
3. Speak out about mental health; check biases and prejudices related to mental health and demand access to necessary health services.
4. Unify and organise for collective action.
5. Take advantage of training opportunities.
6. Push for financial stability through appropriate social protection.
7. Support women in fisheries working for change.

Read the summary report on the Outputs page

Invited publications and presentations

Throughout the duration of the project, the project team capitalised on opportunities to promote the Just BE Fisherfolk project and its activities through small-scale fisheries networks regionally and globally. The use of Popular Theatre for fisherfolk advocacy for climate justice and other interlinked justice issues attracted the attention of global fisherfolk organisations and networks. The SSF Hub invited a contribution to its Latest Stories page. The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) requested an article for the 69th edition of its Yemaya newsletter in June 2024.

The Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) at the University of British Columbia, invited Maria Pena and Michelle Barrow to be speakers during the 2024/2025 FISH500 seminar series sessions for their graduate students and interested community members. They presented “Popular Theatre as an Innovative Participatory Approach to Fisherfolk Advocacy for Justice in Barbados” on 28 February to a group of about 15 graduate students.

Small grant initiative

The Just BE Fisherfolk project benefited from a small grant initiative aimed at strengthening fisherfolk justice advocacy. Five fisherfolk organisations or groups of individuals (informal and formal) were awarded grants of BBD 4,000 and 5,000 (USD 2,000 and 2,500) to develop small project activities focused on climate justice with interlinkages to social justice and blue justice, where appropriate. The small grant activity has been well documented through individual reports and the production of a Just BE Fisherfolk digital magazine. See the Outputs page.

Just BE Fisherfolk webinar series

To encourage fisherfolk to amplify their voices for climate justice and other interconnected rights-based issues, particularly social justice and blue justice, a series of information and interactive discussion webinars were developed and offered with key individuals, networks and entities working on these advocacy issues in the Caribbean from January to May 2025. Each of the webinars has its own standalone summary report with details on presenters, topics covered, and discussion points raised. Some webinar infographics for social media were produced to highlight quotes of the speakers on webinar topics. Go to the Outputs page for more.

Webinar series profile