SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth – Against a backdrop of the all too frequent death of fishermen at sea, Mayor of Black River Jeremy Palmer has called on the Government to conduct an enquiry into such tragedies.

“We really need some sort of enquiry into some of these losses,” Palmer, who represents the Pedro Plains Divison in the St Elizabeth Parish Council, said last Friday at the formal opening of upgraded fishing facilities in Treasure Beach, South West St Elizabeth.

The Black River Mayor made reference to the loss of several fishermen from St Elizabeth and wider Jamaica last year. Reference was also made to the disappearance of six fishermen who had set out from Black River to the western Caribbean last month, and the death of two more in a dockside accident in Black River last week.

Palmer argued that any formal enquiry should probe the nature of the boats “that are going out to sea and the conditions under which they are going to sea.”

Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Chris Tufton who participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies to open gear storage facilities at the Great Bay and Calabash Bay fishing beaches in Treasure Beach, said Government was moving to improve communication to help save lives at sea.

The coastguard, the marine police and fishermen themselves would benefit from more advanced communication equipment as part of a sweeping drive to modernise the fishing sector inclusive of upgraded legislation, Tufton said.

“Many times we are ill-prepared to deal with any emergencies that they (fishermen) have at sea,” the minister, who is also member of parliament for South West St Elizabeth, said.

In a follow-up interview with the Observer, Tufton suggested that upgraded fishing legislation – to be placed before Parliament before the end of the legislative year – will significantly assist safety.

“I think the new legislation will help because it will create a framework supported by the regulations that requires (measures) to ensure greater safety,” said Tufton.

As an example, the minister said strictly enforced registration and licensing will only take place after certain minimum standards are met “including the sea-worthiness of the vessel”.