Duggins Boosting Fish Catches in St. Kitts
BASSETERRE — Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) deployed across Constituency #4 and other parts of St. Kitts are now yielding measurable results for local fishers, according to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives, Sports and Creative Economy, the Hon. Samal Duggins.
In a statement, Duggins said 21 FADs have been deployed to date, giving fishers greater access to valuable oceanic species such as yellowfin tuna. He said the effort followed directly from concerns raised by fishers when he took office.
“Upon taking office, one of the main concerns raised with me by fishers across Constituency #4 was the need for greater access to Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs),” Duggins said. “In a constituency with such a strong fishing tradition, it was important that we listened and responded.”
FADs are floating structures anchored in the ocean that attract fish, making it easier and more efficient for fishers to locate and catch species that might otherwise range widely across open water.
Duggins said fishers themselves have played a hands-on role in the initiative, contributing to the construction and deployment of the devices. He described the programme as one shaped by the people who depend on it most.
“Fishers in Constituency #4 and across St. Kitts have contributed to the construction and deployment of FADs, helping to shape a programme that responds to the realities of those who make their living at sea,” he said.
The minister said the impact of the programme is now visible in the catches being brought back to shore, calling it “progress you can see and impact you can feel.”
Duggins credited the Department of Marine Resources, led by Acting Permanent Secretary Randel Thompson, along with the wider departmental team, for their continued work advancing the FAD Programme. He framed the results as a joint effort between the SKNLP-led government, the department and the fishing community.
“Together, the SKNLP led Government, the Department and our fishers are creating greater opportunities and strengthening the future of our fisheries sector,” Duggins said.
Word count: ~330. Headline is 8 words. A few things to verify before publishing: Randel Thompson’s exact title/spelling, and whether “21 FADs” is the current, up-to-date figure at time of publication.
