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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Last Updated: June 2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to the CRFM Portal ("Portal"), operated by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism ("CRFM", "we", "our", or "us").

The Portal provides access to fisheries, aquaculture, environmental, climate resilience, food safety, and related data, information resources, publications, directories, and collaboration tools for CRFM Member States, partners, researchers, stakeholders, and the public.

By accessing or using the Portal, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, you should discontinue use of the Portal.

2. Eligibility

You must:

  • Be at least 18 years old or have appropriate authorization from your institution or organization;
  • Provide accurate registration information;
  • Maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials;
  • Be responsible for all activities conducted through your account.

3. User Accounts

Certain features require registration.

Users agree to:

  • Provide truthful and complete information;
  • Keep account information current;
  • Protect usernames and passwords;
  • Notify CRFM immediately of any unauthorized use of their account.

CRFM reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Acceptable Use

Users shall not:

  • Upload unlawful, harmful, fraudulent, defamatory, or misleading content;
  • Interfere with Portal operations or security;
  • Attempt unauthorized access to systems or data;
  • Upload malware, viruses, or malicious code;
  • Use automated tools to scrape or harvest data without authorization;
  • Misrepresent data sources or ownership.

5. Data and Content

The Portal contains datasets, documents, reports, publications, multimedia resources, and user-submitted content.

Users acknowledge that:

  • Information is provided for informational, research, educational, and policy purposes;
  • CRFM does not guarantee completeness, accuracy, or suitability for every purpose;
  • Users are responsible for verifying information before making decisions based upon it.

6. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated:

  • Content is owned by CRFM or licensed to CRFM;
  • Copyright remains with the respective rights holder;
  • Users may download and use materials for non-commercial educational, research, and policy purposes with proper attribution.

Users may not:

  • Republish content for commercial purposes without permission;
  • Remove copyright notices;
  • Claim ownership of CRFM materials.

7. User Contributions

By uploading content, users:

  • Confirm they have the right to share such content;
  • Grant CRFM a non-exclusive, worldwide license to store, display, distribute, and make the content available through the Portal;
  • Accept responsibility for the accuracy and legality of submitted materials.

CRFM reserves the right to remove content at its discretion.

8. Data Availability

CRFM strives to maintain continuous access but does not guarantee:

  • Uninterrupted service;
  • Error-free operation;
  • Permanent availability of any dataset or document.

The Portal may be modified, suspended, or discontinued without prior notice.

9. Third-Party Resources

The Portal may contain links to third-party websites, organizations, or external resources.

CRFM is not responsible for:

  • Third-party content;
  • External privacy practices;
  • Availability or reliability of external services.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Portal and all content are provided on an "as-is" and "as-available" basis.

CRFM makes no warranties regarding:

  • Accuracy;
  • Reliability;
  • Fitness for a particular purpose;
  • Availability;
  • Security.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CRFM shall not be liable for:

  • Direct or indirect damages;
  • Data loss;
  • Business interruption;
  • Loss of profits;
  • Reliance on information obtained through the Portal.

12. Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless CRFM, its officers, employees, consultants, and partners against claims arising from:

  • Violation of these Terms;
  • Misuse of the Portal;
  • Infringement of intellectual property rights.

13. Suspension and Termination

CRFM may suspend or terminate access without notice where:

  • Terms are violated;
  • Security concerns arise;
  • Required by law or policy.

14. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by applicable laws and regulations governing the operations of CRFM and, where relevant, the laws of Belize, where the CRFM Secretariat is headquartered.

15. Contact Information

Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to:

Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)
Princess Margaret Drive
Fisheries Compound
P.O. Box 642
Belize City, Belize