Enhancing Scientific Foundations for Sustainable Fisheries Management in Suriname

implementation

The objective of this technical cooperation is to strengthen the scientific foundation for fisheries management in Suriname. This will be achieved through three main goals: (1) conducting comprehensive stock assessments using multiple methods and integrating new and historical data to establish reference points for key commercial species, specifically the acoupa weakfish (Cynoscion acoupa) and green weakfish (Cynoscion virescens); (2) quantifying the socio-economic impacts of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing on these target species; and (3) developing species-specific management recommendations based on robust assessment results to ensure sustainable exploitation of these economically important fish stocks. By addressing critical knowledge gaps in Suriname's fisheries sector, particularly regarding the status of commercially exploited stocks and the extent of IUU fishing impacts, this TC will provide crucial support for implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), as outlined in Suriname's Fisheries Management Plan 2021-2025, and inform evidence-based policies that balance economic gains with long-term sustainability of the fishery.