An outside consultant will be hired to offer this training, ideally in the first four months of the project but as above, before product is harvested. This informal training will be associated with the development of the marketing strategy.
Describe how you plan to capture, share and disseminate the knowledge, lessons learned and good practices gained through the implementation of the project. As stated above, the PPCSL will be actively involved in negotiating on a documentary to communicate project benefits and results.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Economic Sustainability: Based on the current results, it is expected that this initiative will provide additional income in the amount of 120,000.00 annual to the PPCSL. Once PPCSL members have been trained in seaweed cultivation, they can easily pass this knowledge on to additional fishers. This may be necessary to share maintenance workload, and if demand requires, additional farm creations. Other local fishing cooperatives and communities have already expressed interest in this project and capacity could be shared in a national effort, if sufficient demand for the product is identified.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Its current seaweed members along with managing committee will plan to have bi-annual meetings with community and stakeholders, include in our web site, face book page, Placencia Breeze and develop an updated brochure with all relevant information. The PPCSL is in discussion with OCEANA International and the Belize Watch show to develop a documentary video for our seaweed project.
Replication of project activities
The PPCSL has already made several moves toward the expansion and replication of the project. One of the major advances in this direction has been the networking that has been initiated with fisher-folk from the neighboring Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR). Seaweed farmers from the cooperative have been engaging with and training interested parties from the PHMR for several months in an attempt to increase production of seaweed in the region. The main objective of this initiative is to make the industry highly productive, sustainable and economically viable for its stakeholders. The PPCSL has also conducted various trainings with fisher-folk in Providencia in hopes of expanding operations and further developing the industry. The introduction of the seaweed farming manual will greatly facilitate the process of expanding and replicating the project since it provides practical information that will make it possible to standardize the seaweed farming operation in Belize. These manuals may be shared with other interested entities throughout the country and may aid greatly in developing the capacities of those who decide to engage in seaweed farming. The introduction of the training video and training curriculum for seaweed farmers that is presently in the pipeline should also contribute favorably to this end.
Furthermore, for PPCSL to remain sustainable, it is advisable that the association continues to work collaboratively and network closely with entities including GEF/SGP, COMPACT, SEA, and TNC (which have worked well with the cooperative to date). These linkages may assist PPCSL in acquiring the much-needed technical, financial and other support (e.g. marketing) and creating the enabling environment for PPCSL to continue to expand its operations and gain further
exposure.
Project sustainability
The evaluative findings suggested that at this particular point in time, PPCSL does not have the financial resources required to conduct expansion of this venture on its own outside of GEF SGP/COMPACT or assistance from another donor. However, the cooperative may explore ways of capitalizing on income generating activities that will very likely be on the horizon in the future. One of the avenues to the sustainability of the industry that the cooperative is considering is the incorporating of a value-added component to the seaweed production process. This has the potential of making the product more marketable by driving up the price of the output and may therefore encourage more farmers to become involved in the industry. The variety of seaweed that goes by the name Eucheuma isiforme has properties that make it serve as an excellent food thickener. The variety scientifically known as Gracilaria sppc is useful for the production of cosmetics and skin therapy products. It is also used in the creation of soaps, shampoos, conditioners; massage oils, and hair products. By providing some training in the production of some of these items, the cooperative may entice more members to become more involved in the seaweed industry.
Another endeavor that may enhance sustainability of the industry is the collaboration with private sector entities in seaweed farming process. The cooperative is exploring the possibility of increasing its collaboration with private sector stakeholders who have expressed interest in investing in the seaweed farming ventures and who can provide much needed capital and other resources to the endeavor. This partnership will assist the cooperative greatly in maintaining its presence and conducting its operations, contributing greatly to the longevity of the initiative (given its weak financial position at the time of this evaluation).
Presently, TNC (The Nature Conservancy) is conducting a market study to test the viability of seaweed as a product/commodity. The findings from this study will be used to inform the cooperative and other interested entities about the market opportunities available to those who become engaged in seaweed production. The hope is that this will guide the goal setting process (where seaweed production is concerned). This study may provide valuable information regarding the yields, value-added possibilities, marketing options and linkages that may be developed within the industry, all of which may contribute favorably towards the sustainability of the venture. Where the biological aspect of seaweed farming is concerned, recent studies have shown that seaweed is resilient to the effects of climate change, which has become a serious concern in recent years. Research has shown that seaweed, unlike most other marine species, can withstand most of the climatic conditions brought about by the phenomenon of climate change. This bodes well for the seaweed industry as the concerns pertinent to the issue of climate change are mounting with each passing year. This should contribute towards the sustainability of seaweed farming from a scientific perspective.
Gender Focus
The project is focused on improving sustainability of the marine resources on which PPCSL`s stakeholders (both men and women) depend, improving economic sustainability of livelihoods for both fishermen and tour guides. Almost all (90%) of commercial fishermen using the area are male, and are the predominant bread winners in the family, supporting their wives and children. Training will be provided for 25 persons in seaweed farming and two additional women will be employed by the PPCSL.
Project Results
The project titled “Expanding Sustainable and Environmentally Responsible Production of Seaweed (Eucheuma isiforme and Gracilaria spp.) into the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve” implemented by the Placencia Producers Cooperative Society Limited (PPCSL) was funded from a grant from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP). As it relates to the major aspects of the project, stakeholders generally agreed that the project did address some of the needs that the stakeholders had identified as being important to them from the outset. The first objective, which was to expand the seaweed initiative by establishing ten additional seaweed farms in the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve was actually exceeded, as the PPCSL managed to set up a total of twenty-one (21) farms. However, the second objective, which was to enhance the institutional and management capacity of the PPCSL through the development of a marketing strategy and plan and to provide training in marketing and processing techniques for value-added products, was not accomplished. The reason for this was that the Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology (BEST) had offered to prepare the marketing plan and strategy for the project but at the time of this report, the document was not
forthcoming.
It was deduced that the funding allocated for the project was sufficient to cover the costs incurred. However, there was the need for some reallocation of funds, as the original costs presented for some of the equipment and material during the design stage of the project were inaccurate. Additionally, it was reported that there was poor financial management, record keeping and accountability on the part of the Operations Manager during the course of the project.
This severely weakened the financial position of the PPCSL and posed major challenges in meeting costs such as those incurred in the monitoring of seaweed farms and in compensating the
project assistant. This also contributed to a loss of confidence in the project among some key stakeholders and resulted in diminished commitment to the endeavor.
A potential bright note during the project was the development of a manual on the cultivation of edible seaweeds in Belize. Though not one of the original objectives of the project, this initiative was observed by the majority of the stakeholders involved in the evaluation as a significant move in ensuring quality control in the seaweed production process. The general consensus was that the use of this manual would aid greatly in expanding and replicating the project in other marine reserves throughout the country. Also at the time of the report, some funds were requested for the design and production of a training video and a training curriculum for
seaweed farmers.
Several risks and challenges faced during the implementation of the project were identified by stakeholders. These included: poor financial management on the part of the Operations Manager, which caused a domino effect that adversely impacted other aspects of the project; lack of support and dedication to the project by key members of the management committee; theft of seaweed from the farms due to lack of adequate monitoring (caused by the weakened financial position of the cooperative); and unfavorable weather conditions, which hindered certain aspects
of the project.
As it relates to the way forward, it was recommended that all members of the Managing Committee for the project engage in extensive and intense training and education as it relates to the entire seaweed project. There was a major lack of commitment towards the project by key members of the management team and this adversely affected the outcome of the project. The consensus among workshop participants was that before any major improvement could take place
“on the ground” there first needs to be total understanding regarding the seaweed farming operations, which could positively influence buy-in and commitment at the management level
within the PPCSL.
Stakeholders at the participatory workshop identified various entities that they believed the PPCSL would be able to work collaboratively with in the future. Among these groups are private sector entities interested in seaweed production; universities conducting research; GEF/SGP COMPACT; TNC; SEA and the Fisheries Department. Furthermore, it was suggested that the cooperative should continue to create and submit project proposals and solicit assistance (financial, technical, or otherwise) from organizations such as SGP GEF/COMPACT, SEA, TNC and Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology (BEST) that may enable the cooperative to further build the capacities of its members and thereby eventually allow them to improve and expand the seaweed
industry in Belize.
