Hallihan backs Government's new fishing policy

CALABASH BAY, St Elizabeth — Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica Stephen Hallihan says he is in full support of the recently announced fishing rules aimed at sustaining the island's fish stocks, admitting that it was inaction on the part of the Canadian Government that led to the collapse of the once-vibrant cod fish industry in the 1980s.

Hallihan, who was speaking at Friday's launch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries' new fish wire project in Calabash Bay, said his country had learnt some painful lessons from the unfortunate events.

"My country has learnt a lot of painful and difficult lessons around the management of cod fishing in the past, and I refer specifically to the collapse of our fishing industry in the 1980s, which was our backbone of our commercial fisheries. And the reason for that collapse is very simple. They were right in front of us but we didn't see them, we over-fished the stock, we overmanaged the stock, we didn't pay proper stewarding for the stock and they collapsed and they haven't really come back to this day," Hallihan said.

"My country and many of our fisheries continue to suffer from that collapse. And that is why I think that the mesh wire project ... is so vital and important. It is going to ensure that you don't make the mistakes we made back in Canada and it is going to ensure, then, continuation of your fisheries," Hallihan pointed out.

The fish wire project, which was officially launched by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, imposes a new minimum size for the mesh wire used in fish pots. The new minimum size of one-and-a-half-inch mesh wire replaces the one-and-a-quarter-inch mesh wire now being used in the construction of fish pots.

The move increases the minimum size of the fishes that can be caught and keeps out immature fishes, contributing to the sustainability of the island's fish resources.

As of January 2011, persons caught using the smaller wire will be prosecuted.

"It will only take from the sea fish of a certain size, and that would exclude the fish that we want to stay in the sea and get a little bigger," Dr Tufton said, adding that the use of the larger mesh wire was standard across the globe.

Friday's function also facilitated the reopening of the Calabash Bay Fishing Beach, which was recently upgraded at a cost of $4 million -- a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency. Upgrading works included the construction of sanitary facilities for some 450 male and female fisherfolk who use the beach.

It also included the building of sewage treatment systems, installation of electricity and other conveniences for hygienic and efficient operations, which were previously dilapidated or non-existent.

Shortly after the opening ceremony vouchers were presented to 150 fisherfolk to purchase the new standard one-and-a-half-inch mesh wire.

Friday's announcement was the latest in a series to protect the island's fish stock. Already, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has established fish sanctuaries for the breeding of fish where fishing is prohibited.

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