CLARENDON, Jamaica — Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, visited Rocky Point, Clarendon on Monday, to see how the agency is helping to alleviate marine issues facing locals in Jamaica.

“Climate change is affecting us tremendously, we are having serious problems with illegal fishing from other countries,” Derrick Osbourne, a long time fisherman in the area told the prince and his delegation as they stood on a section of the stretch of beach where fishers haul in their catch.

Residents of Rocky Point benefit from the United Nations Development Programmes Blue Resilience Project, supported by Norway, and were allowed to explain not only their climate change fuelled challenges, but how the programme has helped them so far. Osbourne and Cedella Harvey were two local fisherfolk who detailed this for Prince Haakon.

Harvey, who has acted as a warden for protected marine areas in the past, explained “We have to go further out to get a better catch, because of climate change there’s a decline in the harbour.”

National Fisheries Authority CEO, Gavin Bellamy, explained to the Norwegian delegation that the issue raised by Harvey was one they were hoping to continue to get UNDP support to tackle.

“We want sustainable fisheries management,” he stressed. For the NFA head that means not only stopping poachers, but increasing protected areas, tracking fishermen and their catch, and getting fish numbers up so that fishermen can get a better catch, closer to home.

Bellamy did not hesitate to highlight what had already been done and says that with the help of the UNDP, the NFA is on the way to opening a local monitoring centre for fisherfolk.

Citing advancements in fishing like geo location trackers now in use by the NFA, the CEO maintained: “The support from UNDP and Norway allows us to flesh out what we see on the ground that’s necessary to benefit all.”

That support also extends to the creation of the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub, which was launched in Jamaica on November 17, 2023, almost a year ago exactly, with aid from the UNDP and Norway’s government. Reflecting on that milestone Deputy Minister (State Secretary) of Development in Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær told Observer Online, “I think it’s impressive to see the achievements that have been made in such a short time and to see the countries in the region working together.”

Prince Haakon and Sandkjær were also guided on tour by Pearnel Charles Jr, Member of Parliament for Clarendon South East.

“It’s quite flat here, that would be a challenge if the water came in,” the prince said while speaking to Charles, immediately clocking one of the areas major issues.

Rocky Point, with its proximity to the ocean is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Overfishing and rising ocean temperatures affect the fish that residents’ livelihoods depend on and contribute to stronger storms, a fact that Charles, who worked on the establishment of the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub stressed.

“Imagine living in a space where you’re selling fish depending not just on the sea but on the weather — this is it, when fishing is down everything is down,” he said.

Charles emphasised the importance of continued funding for the project to the crown prince.

“If we are able to get the investment into the equipment to protect the fishers’ life infrastructure, and business and then we the government do the rest in terms of the road infrastructure, when you come back you won’t want to leave,” he promised.

The Rocky Point community was particularly affected by the recent passage of Hurricane Beryl and subsequent rains, with hundreds of residents displaced by flooding, some of which had not yet receded at the time of the visit.

Observer Online spoke to several residents who, expressing satisfaction about the crown Prince’s visit and support offered by the UNDP, described why it was necessary.

“If you saw this beach after the storm, it was a wreck,” Vera Charlton explained.

“In the weather recently, all the fishing gear mash up at sea,” said Angella Ebanks.

“It’s good, we’re glad about it,” said Olga Bennett regarding the visit.

Prince Haakon’s visit to Jamaica will last from November 18 to 20.