MONTEGO BAY, St James – The Montego Bay Marine Park is to receive a glass-bottom boat and two instructors to train fishermen in this tourist resort as tour guides courtesy of the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation under a voluntary agreement aimed at preserving the environment.

The memorandum of understanding, which hopes to further discourage fishing within the protected boundries of the park and provide alternative incomes for the fishermen, was signed last Friday by Dr Charles Eyles, chairman of the park; Spain’s ambassador to Jamaica, Jesus Silva; Fernando Bosque, CEO of MBJ Airports and Salvador Luque, chairman of Seawind Key Investments. Dr Horace Chang, minister of water and housing, also witnessed the signing, which took place at the RIU Hotel in Montego Bay.

“Fishing on the north coast was never viable. and the preservation of the environment is critical to maintaining the quality and character of the resort, hence the importance of changing the way we operate,” said Chang.

The Montego Bay Marine Park comprises 15.3 square kilometres of the island’s north coast and encompasses the entirety of Montego Bay’s seafront. Established in 1991, it is one of Jamaica’s oldest marine parks.

However it has been compromised, especially in recent years by overfishing and coastline development, among other environmentally hazardous practices.

Consequently, a sanctuary has been established in an effort to sustain its viability and park officials try, through ongoing educational thrusts, to promote best environmental practices among the users of the park and the wider community.

“This is one of the first steps to protect the park and we are committed to preserving it,” said Silva, pointing out that the organisations comprising the Jamaica-Spanish Foundation also stood to benefit from the MOU.

Under the MOU, the marine park will commit to promoting the goodwill and contributions of the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation though its advertisements, communication and personal interaction.

The park will also be required to provide pictures and detailed monthly reports of the operation of the project.