Strengthening Barbuda’s Marine Workforce Through Continued Training and Support
BarbudanGO is advancing its long-term commitment to marine safety and sustainability with the next phase of its ongoing training program for local fishers with Dive Caribe padi certification.
This new phase builds on previous efforts spearheaded in partnership with the Waitt Foundation, whose early support helped establish a foundation for community-led ocean stewardship, and the GEF Small Grants Program and ProCaribe+, a core donor strengthening local capacity across Barbuda.
Overall barbudanGO aims to expand the number of PADI-certified, and marine-conservation-trained fishers by 20%, improving both safety at sea and sustainable fishing practices across the island.
Central to the overall aim is to train 15 individuals in marine citizen science and certifying them through PADI.
These internationally recognized credentials will give participants skills in underwater research, diver safety, and emergency response—empowering them to better protect themselves, their livelihoods, and Barbuda’s fragile marine ecosystem.
This initiative is part of an ongoing multi-year effort to ensure fishers play a leading role in monitoring reefs, documenting changes in fish populations, and contributing reliable data to conservation partners.
“This is about continuing to build on the strong foundation laid with our partners the Waitt Foundation and GEF Small Grants Programme, ProCaribe+… ,” Pethrolyna Isaac, Director of Environment at barbudanGO stated.
“We are helping our fishers improve their safety and strengthening marine conservation because with proper training our fishers will become stronger partners in sustainable ocean stewardship.
They will continue to gain skills needed to understand and protect the ocean’s ecosystem..”
The Added Benefits of PADI Certification for Fishers
Beyond safety and conservation, PADI certification opens new economic doors for Barbuda’s fishers. With formal dive credentials, they can diversify their income through opportunities such as:
Assisting with scientific research dives
Becoming certified dive guides or boat support for tourism operators
Supporting conservation projects requiring skilled divers
Participating in reef monitoring, restoration, and debris-removal work
Collaborating with visiting researchers and NGOs
For fishers, these additional pathways provide not only supplemental income but also more stable and sustainable employment linked to the health of the marine environment they depend on.
By expanding this program, barbudanGO is helping ensure that Barbuda’s fishers are safer, more skilled, and better positioned to benefit from a wide range of marine-related livelihoods.
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