KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has confirmed that Jamaica’s fisheries sector has suffered catastrophic, island-wide damage following the passage of Category Five Hurricane Melissa.

Preliminary assessments point to losses in the billions, with fishing communities, aquaculture enterprises and critical infrastructure heavily affected. The devastation threatens the livelihoods of thousands of Jamaicans and poses serious risks to national food security.

According to the NFA, the worst-affected areas stretch from Manchester westward to St Ann along the north coast, while the parishes of St Thomas, Portland and St Mary have also sustained significant damage.

Early reports show that several fishing beaches, particularly in the southwestern region, are facing near-total collapse. Some communities have reported a 100 per cent loss of vessels, along with severe destruction of engines, gear, gear sheds and processing sites.

The aquaculture subsector has reported similar levels of devastation. Farmers have lost large quantities of stock from fry to mature fish and suffered major damage to ponds, dykes and other essential infrastructure. The NFA also confirmed heavy damage to its own facilities in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Gavin Bellamy of the NFA, said the destruction has severely disrupted the fisheries supply chain.

“We are witnessing not just damage to property, but a direct blow to the livelihoods of thousands of Jamaicans and the protein supply for our nation. Our immediate focus is on stabilising the situation, supporting our staff and fishers, and clearing critical choke points.”

He added that several supply chain disruptions have emerged in the wake of the hurricane.

“The supply of fresh fish to local markets, vendors and consumers has been interrupted, creating immediate food security concerns.”

Blocked roadways have prevented the delivery of feed to aquaculture farms, threatening remaining stocks, while widespread power outages have crippled fuel stations, limiting the ability of fishers to power their vessels and resume operations.

The NFA, working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and partners from the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), has begun a multi-phase response to assess the full extent of the losses and implement a recovery and resilience programme.

Dr Bellamy acknowledged the scale of the challenges ahead.

“The road to recovery will be long, but we are committed to building back a stronger, more resilient fisheries sector.”

The authority emphasised that fishers play an essential role in national food security, community livelihoods and the wider blue economy, noting that the Government remains committed to supporting their recovery.