During 2004 and 2005, the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), assisted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), carried out case studies in Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands on the consideration of socio-economic and demographic concerns in fisheries and coastal area management and planning. The findings of these studies were reviewed by a regional workshop, held 13–17 June 2005 in Trinidad and Tobago. Most workshop recommendations focus on actions to be taken by national governments, such as promoting the development of fishing communities through fishers’ and community-based organizations; review by each country of its legal framework and establishment of task forces comprised of government agencies, industry and other stakeholders; policy direction to promote economic and social development of fishing communities and community-based organizations and creation of fisheries development units under the fisheries departments. Activities for follow-up by FAO include: (i) assistance in the development of materials on community-based fisheries management and the collection and use of socio-economic, demographic and cultural information for use by fisheries extension personnel and fishers’ organizations; and (ii) provision of technical advice on fisheries port development and management for and with the participation of coastal communities and major stakeholders.