ST ANN, Jamaica — Forty fisherfolk based at the Discovery Bay Fisherman’s Beach in St Ann have been certified as part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining’s Promoting Community-Based Climate Resilience in the Fisheries Sector Project.

Twenty received certificates in horizontal long-line fishing, while the other 20 have been certified in the use of fish aggregating devices (FADS).

At the ceremony, held at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory on April 17, Portfolio Minister, Floyd Green, said that the programme looks at all the challenges in the fisheries sector and prescribes solutions.

He noted that the training of the fishers is one element of this comprehensive fisheries programme, which is aimed at alleviating the region’s declining fish stock and retooling artisanal fishers to go farther out to catch larger, more in-demand fish.

“What they (fishers) are doing is going farther offshore to catch larger fish species. What we are trying to catch is what is in high demand, especially in our hotel sector. It’s not that we don’t have it, it’s that we haven’t trained our fishers in the technology to go out and get it,” the minister noted.

Green pointed out that fishers are being trained to catch fish such as marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahimahi, kingfish and swordfish, which are among the fish that are in high demand.

He also underscored the importance of the sector to the island.

“Fisheries continues to play a critical economic, social and cultural role for us as Jamaicans. So many communities depend on the fisheries sector for survival. So many families are directly impacted by the work of our fishers, but as we know our fisheries sector has faced its fair share of challenges,” he outlined.

The minister said the island stands among the highest consumers of fish per capita in the world; however, most of the fish consumed are imported.

“In fact, we are way past most of the region, but the reality is the 68 per cent of the fish that we consume is imported, and we have to put a stop to that, and the only way we can put a stop to that is by ensuring that our fishers are able to go farther out and to treat with the realities of climate change,” Green added.

The minister thanked the World Bank for funding the project.

Among the numerous sub-projects launched through the initiative are oyster production, alternative fish feed production, sea/Irish moss production and the launch of a tilapia hatchery.

During the ceremony, the fisherfolk also received full pelagic fishing gear and equipment from the ministry, including ice boxes, VHF marine radios, catch lines and hooks.

The initiative is aimed at helping vulnerable fishing and fish farming communities in Jamaica to adopt climate-resilient practices and strengthen the sector through several sub-projects.

It is funded by the World Bank through a grant of US$4.8 million and implemented by the ministry.

The 40 fishers are the first batch of some 280 fisherfolk across seven fishing communities on the island to be certified as part of the programme.

— JIS