Barbadians and visitors may soon have another option to be able to buy local, traceable and sustainable fish online thanks to BlueFISH, a digital tool that connects buyers to fishers and vendors while providing critical data to fisherfolk, tourism partners, customers and the government. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) began testing the new Blue Economy digital tool with an introductory training workshop on December 9, 2021, in collaboration with the Fisheries Division, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations and the first group of participating champion fisherfolk.  

The UNDP Accelerator Lab in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, supported by The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Qatar Fund for Development and UNDP core partners, developed BlueFISH, one of four components of BlueDIGITAL. BlueDIGITAL is a digital-first pilot experiment which uses online tools to better connect key sectors such as fisheries and tourism and their stakeholders in the Blue Economy ecosystem in Barbados. Speaking to the benefits of this type of innovation, Nikola Simpson, Head of Exploration at the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean stated, “Through learning and co – creating with fisherfolk and supporting them to transform to the digital economy, enhanced access to e-commerce through BlueFISH could promote greater resilience. BlueFISH will allow fisherfolk to collect much needed data on species type through the use of image recognition technology and to use their knowledge to input information such as local names. In addition, in phase 2 of the pilot, the BlueFISH app will also be capable of using technology to determine species size which could inform future policies to both protect and safeguard the sector against external shocks.” 

The co-creative session was attended by a small group of champion pilot fisherfolk who supported the testing of the pilot and provided insights on how the tool can be used, including recommendations for improvement before scaling and expanding throughout the industry. One participant stated, “Today was very educational; I learnt a lot and this is just the start so I look forward to learning more on how BlueFISH can help my business grow – to expand to new customers, both in Barbados and abroad. Furthermore, I am interested in introducing some of the less common or underloved sustainable species to existing customers including restaurants”. 

By co-creating digital solutions in the Blue Economy in Barbados, the BlueFISH pilot of the BlueDIGITAL project is testing a virtual marketplace which could help the fisheries sectors of Small Island Developing States in the Eastern Caribbean region expand their reach and improve individual earning potential as well as financial and business literacy of fisherfolk while boosting the resilience of the industry as a whole. 

At this time when exogenous threats like COVID-19 and the climate crisis continue to impact the region, it is vital that development efforts continue to reinforce the need for regional resilience and building forward better, including through digital transformation. This programme is part of the work of UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in its commitment to promoting economic diversification, job creation and resilience within the "Blue Economy for Green Islands" vision. As the Caribbean continues to seek solutions to build resilience and sustain livelihoods for traditionally vulnerable groups, UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in partnership with governments and stakeholders, remains dedicated to the advancement of inclusive and sustainable development throughout the region and to building resilient communities that can withstand shocks and crises through targeted projects and programmes.

For further information on this project kindly contact Nikola Simpson at Nikola.simpson@undp.org for media queries.  

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UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at www.bb.undp.org or follow at @UNDPBarbados 

The UNDP Accelerator Labs, a global network of 91 Labs in 115 countries building the world’s largest learning network to tackle 21st century development challenges, supported by The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Qatar Fund for Development and UNDP core partners