New Fishing Vessel to Enhance Safety for Local Fisherfolk at Sea
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, December 07, 2022 (SKNIS) – The operations of the Department of Marine Resources on both St. Kitts and Nevis were significantly boosted on Tuesday (December 06) through the acquisition of a brand new one million dollar ($1 million) Fisheries Patrol Vessel.
The new vessel was procured under the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) grant aid project and was presented to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis following the conclusion of a two-day Operations and Maintenance training workshop which focused on areas such as vessel capacity, risk management, boating safety practices among others.
Director of the Department of Marine Resources, Dr. Marc Williams said this acquisition will significantly add to the enhancement of the fisheries sector which he said plays an important role in food and nutrition security in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“Not only are we looking at boosting production but we are also looking at boosting the safety and security of our fishers at sea. This vessel is part of the tools that the Department of Marine Resources, both in St. Kitts and Nevis, will be using to ensure that fishers are safe in terms of our response to their distress at sea and also to their compliance to our regulations,” Dr. Williams added
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources and Cooperatives, the Honourable Samal Duggins echoed the sentiment that greater protection of the nation’s fisherfolk is of utmost importance, particularly now as fishers venture even further offshore to catch more sought after pelagic species.
“Instead of targeting fish on the near shore reef ecosystems, fishers travel further distances for ocean pelagic fish. The increased distance was economically more viable because the fish found around the FADS [Fish Aggregating Devices] were greater in supply but they were also greater in demand. Fishers invested in larger fishing vessels and the requisite fishing gear to target these species. With all the preparations fishers often found themselves at the mercy of the ocean because FADS are situated many miles from land and the oceanic conditions change at a moment’s notice,” the minister said.
Minister Duggins added, “As the fisheries administration we have a duty to our fishers to ensure that safety is paramount. The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Resources Act and the regulations for this Act will be put into force in the upcoming year 2023. On the more visible side of the fisher safety issue, would be the presence of the Department of Marine Resources on the sea regularly to ensure that you are in compliance with the laws and provide support to you in times of distress with this wonderful gift.”
Through the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) grant aid project, the fisheries sector in St. Kitts and Nevis has also benefited by the acquisition of a walk-in freezer and scales at the Old Road Fisheries, as well as meat mincer and fish filet machines at the Basseterre Fisheries Complex and the fisheries complex on Nevis.