Black River fishing sanctuary to become tourist attraction
CRAWFORD, St Elizabeth –
Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth, Dr Christopher Tufton is hoping to make the 180-hectare Black River fishing sanctuary a major tourist attraction.
“It is my intention as member of parliament here to set up a system soon that will allow tours of the sanctuary,” Dr Tufton told scores of fishers at the Galleon/Long Acre fishing beach at Crawford last Thursday, following a tour of the Black River sanctuary.
The sanctuary was established just over two months ago, as part of a government initiative to establish 11 such facilities – at a cost of $36 million – across the island, in an effort to enhance fisheries resources in designated areas.
Dr Tufton told the fishers that while the sanctuary will eventually provide a better harvest of fish for the more than 500 fishermen who ply their trade in the Black River area, the importance of it as a major tourist attraction in the future should not be overlooked.
“Over time the sanctuary will develop and become a beautiful natural environment and fishers can be involved in the process of taking tourists out there to see the sanctuary – whether by glass-bottom boats or other means-where they can swim, snorkel, look at the turtles and fishes,” said Dr Tufton, who is also the minister of agriculture.
He noted that several countries across the world, including the Caribbean islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines, have been using their fish sanctuaries as tourists attractions.
“I was in St Vincent and the Grenadines recently and we got permission to tour a particular sanctuary and you could swim, you could snorkel, you see the turtles and different species of fish… so the sanctuary is in fact an economic opportunity for you here also,” he emphasised.
The member of parliament expressed confidence that the initiative can become viable, particularly because of the sanctuary’s strategic location.
“You have the tourism industry on both sides of this area,” the MP noted, pointing to the Whitehouse area of Westmoreland and Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth where several hotels are located.
Meanwhile, Dr Tufton has urged the fishers to protect and recognise the importance of the sanctuary.
“Legally you can be arrested and charged for fishing in the sanctuary, but we don’t want to get there. We just want you to ensure that you discourage persons who may want to go there and fish,” he said.
