More support for fisheries sector, drought activities
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green says the Government is providing an additional $104 million to support the fisheries sector and to continue its drought-mitigation activities.
Making the announcement in a statement in Parliament on Wednesday, Green said that $29 million of this amount will go towards the continuation of the Fisheries Sector Production Improvement Programme to provide grants and vouchers and will be expanded to provide safety gear for fishers.
Giving a breakdown of how the funds will be allocated, the minister said outboard motor fuel grants valued at a total of $4 million will be provided to 400 eligible fishers operating fishing vessels. They will be given vouchers of $10,000 each.
“This will be for fishers who consistently maintain their fisheries licence over the last two years. One of the challenges is that people get licences and then they do not renew their licence and we are trying to incentivise the renewal of that licence by ensuring that the ones who do well, we give them some grants towards fuel. Fuel continues to be one of the major challenges in terms of cost for the fisheries sector,” he said.
He said that $6 million will go towards fishing and fish marketing gear grants where small grants of up to $120,000 will be made available to 50 young qualified fishers, including young women.
Further, in recognition that fishstock nearshore is almost depleted, and to encourage fishers to go further offshore and to engage in pelagic (open sea) fishing, Green said that $7 million in safety gear will be provided to 500 licensed fishers. The equipment will include life jackets, marine radios and GPS devices.
Additionally, Green said $12 million will be spent to provide up to 600 fishers with fishing gear valued at $20,000.00 each.
Turning to the drought-mitigation activities for which the Government has allocated $202 million to undertake, the agriculture minister said that a further allocation of $104 million will be provided to continue support for farmers severely impacted by the ongoing drought.
