Fish Frenzy! – Nicole brings good fortune to Bulla Corner
MARTHA BRAE, Trelawny — WHILE a number of persons across this western parish are busy picking up the pieces in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Nicole, scores of residents in the Falmouth and Martha Brae areas of the parish are cashing in on the good fortune the storm has brought them.
Since last week Wednesday scores of persons have been converging at a large canal along a section of the busy Martha Brae to Falmouth mainroad — popularly known as ‘Bulla Corner’— to secure heaps of fish that have been washed up there, due to the heavy rains associated with the storm.
Dormitator maculatus, better known as ‘God a mi’, are in abundance in the murky water but other species of fish, such as catfish and tarpon are also being caught on a daily basis.
“ Bwoy mi glad fi the storm. Mi make more than $10,000.00 already fi the day,” one of the scores of fishermen who fish in the canal told the Observer West on Monday.
Lazarus Saunders, another of the fishers, also commented that he has been doing brisk business since Wednesday.
“People nuh stop buying the fish dem, especially the ‘God a mi’,” he said.
The fishermen have been using baskets and meshed fish pots to harvest the fish.
At a price of roughly $50 per pound for ‘God a Mi’ — when compared to $300.00 per pound for sea water fish — persons wanting good bargains on fish have been visiting the area in droves.
“A good buy wi a get,” said a woman who purchased five pounds of ‘God a mi,’ on Sunday.
A man who gave his name as Keith said he uses the ‘God a mi’ to make soup.
“It mek nice soup man. It good fi you back,” he said.
According to Environmentalist Royland Haye the ‘God a mi’ that are now being harvested at ‘Bulla Corner’ were washed up in the canal and the mangroves in the vicinity during last week’s storm.