The meeting saw the active participation of Government officials, researchers, and other stakeholders from WECAFC, Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), and Organization for the Fishing and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), and 14 countries/territories member countries that engage in the research, harvest and management of fish species that aggregate to spawn in the WECAFC region. The meeting discussed country updates towards the national and regional management of spawning aggregations. These updates include new regulatory measures, new priority species distinctions, and upcoming activities towards spawning aggregation management. The meeting also included plenary discussions on: • educational and communication materials related to the Working Group (WG). The WG was presented with an update on the progress made to date on these materials. They were also reminded of the intended use of these materials; • the regional communicaton strategy, including the diversity of engagement opportunites through short films, blogs and press releases; • a new regional project funded by the European Union Directorate General for Marine Affairs (EU DG MARE) and the associated program of work to be accomplished under the project; and • updating the previously submitted recommendation WECAFC/XVIII/2022/4.

The fifth meeting of the CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM/CITES Working Group on Queen Conch (QCWG) was held in a hybrid format. The meeting was hosted in San Juan, Puerto Rico from 13 to 14 December 2021, but most attendees participated in the meeting remotely. The following members and regional partner organizations participated: Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, European Union, France (on behalf of Guadeloupe and Martinique), Honduras, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the United States of America, the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC), the Organization for the Fishing and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA). The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI), the Regional Committee of Marine Fisheries and Marine Aquaculture of Guadeloupe, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (Belize). Experts were also in attendance from the Scientific, Statistical and Technical Advisory Group of the Queen Conch Working Group (QCWG/SSTAG). Discussions focused on the progress made towards implementation of the Regional Queen Conch Fisheries Management and Conservation Plan and recommendations adopted at the 17th meeting of the Commission in 2019. Participants learned about collaborative work on Queen conch, especially at the regional level, and an overview of the intersessional activities undertaken.

Fish Spawning Aggregations (FSAs) are very important as they are the sole reproductive event, and face a global challenge for being reduced in both number and size, threatening the continued existence of the species, along with the livelihood of fishing communities with a multiplier effect on the economics, social cohesion and survival of benthic areas. Efforts have been made to reduce and reverse their decline but are insufficient. It is against this backdrop that the Regional Fish Spawning Aggregation Draft Fishery Management Plan (FSAMP) was developed at the request of the Working Group. The goals of the 4th meeting of the SAWG are to address any comments received from members and partners on the draft FSAMP, as well as to provide updates on the communications strategy and advance implementation of Recommendation WECAFC/XVII/2019/24 adopted at the 17th Session of WECAFC (WECAFC 17). Las agregaciones de desove (AD) constituyen el principal evento reproductivo, y se enfrentan a un reto global por su reducción en número y tamaño. Una situación que amenaza la continuidad de las especies y los medios de vida de las comunidades pesqueras, con un efecto multiplicador en la economía, la cohesión social y la supervivencia de las zonas bentónicas. Se han realizado esfuerzos para reducir y revertir su declive, pero son insuficientes. En este contexto y, a petición del GTAD, se elaboró el proyecto del Plan regional de ordenación pesquera de las especies que forman agregaciones de desove (PROPEFAD). Los objetivos de la cuarta reunión del GTAD son estudiar los comentarios formulados por miembros y socios sobre el proyecto del PROPEFAD, proporcionar información actualizada sobre la estrategia de comunicación, y avanzar en la implementación de la Recomendación COPACO/17/2019/24, adoptada en la decimoséptima reunión de la COPACO (COPACO 17).

The twelfth session of the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC) was held virtually from 19 to 20 June 2023. The SAG considered the outcomes of the work carried out by various joint working groups between 2022 and 2023 and their recommendations to the 19th Session of WECAFC . A revised version of the Caribbean Regional anchored aFAD Management plan and a revised version of the Guide for improved monitoring of anchored aFAD catches and improved assessment of anchored aFADs impact on stocks first reviewed at the eleventh session of SAG were tabled.

The first meeting of the CFMC/WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM Working Group on Spawning Aggregations was held in Miami, United States of America, from 29 to 31 October 2013. The meeting brought together experts working on spawning aggregations of fish from all over Western Central Atlantic region. The Working Group noted with concern the ongoing declines in stocks of many aggregating species and particularly groupers and snappers in the Wider Caribbean Region, the reduced numbers of aggregations and the relatively smaller size of remaining aggregations. The Working Group also verified that the status of Nassau grouper, Goliath grouper and several other species stocks in the Wider Caribbean region should be considered "overexploited," and that some stocks can even be regarded as "depleted." The meeting issued a "Declaration of Miami," which included a recommendation to the fifteenth session of WECAFC on the establishment of a regional closed season for Nassau Grouper fisheries in the WECAFC area to protect spawning aggregations of this species.

The fifth Meeting of the WECAFC Working Group (WG) on Fisheries using Anchored (or Moored) Fish Aggregating Devices (aFAD) was held in a hybrid format from 17–19 April 2023, hosted by the Commonwealth of Dominica. The meeting was attended by various WECAFC Members, including Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, European Union, France, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and the United States of America. The objectives included reviewing data and recent developments in member countries with aFAD fisheries, discussing working documents related to the implementation of the 2022–2024 workplan, providing a status update on the implementation of relevant instruments and recommendations, and developing recommendations and a proposed work plan for future work.

This report indicates that climate change will significantly affect the availability and trade of fish products, especially for those countries most dependent on the sector, and calls for effective adaptation and mitigation actions encompassing food production.