All fishermen to be licensed - Tufton
Published: Monday | February 16, 2009


Noel Thompson, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:

The Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture is to undertake a massive all-island drive to have all fishermen registered and licensed.

The campaign is to commence by next year as part of a move to have the more than 30,000 fisherfolk registered, the agriculture ministry will be waiving the fee for a limited time.

Agriculture Minister Dr Chris-topher Tufton made the announcement as he addressed residents in the fishing villages of Calabash Bay and Great Bay in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, on Friday afternoon.

Unacceptable

"Approximately 89 per cent of the fisherfolk are not registered with the Fisheries Division and that is unacceptable. If fishermen are not registered, it will be difficult for the ministry and the Fisheries Division to make adequate plans," he said.

Tufton re-opened two gear sheds in both communities, which were recently refurbished at a cost of $3 million and $7 million each. The facilities have been equipped with new doors and electricity, and was also repainted. Toilet facilities are to be constructed as well.

The agriculture minister urged the fishermen and other stake-holders to ensure that the facilities were properly maintained. "That is the big challenge we are now faced with. If they are not maintained, then the whole refurbishing exercise will be futile," he said, adding that at least four fishing villages were slated to be refurbished on the south coast.

12 years without electricity

"The gear shed at Calabash Bay had been without electricity for about 12 years," said Shaun Taylor, chairman of the Calabash Bay Fishermen's Cooperative. "The refurbishing exercise was long overdue and we are very pleased to see that it has become a reality. We have been begging for this for years," he stated.

Havelan Honeyghan, chairman of the Jamaica Fishermen's Cooperative Union, corroborated Taylor's statement. Honeyghan said he was pleased with the increased focus Tufton has placed on the fisheries sector.

noel.thompson@gleanerjm.com

I am betting the the local fishermen from TB will maintain the sheds !!
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

WOW!! that is good news the fishing industry has been severely affected by the lack of interest and lack of regulation over the past decades, by the previous ""INEPT"" GOV'T. i can't wait for the laws that govern the fishing industry are brought up to date, the laws that are currently in use are from 1976 and are "OUT DATED". the gear sheds is good news for the fisher folk, and the new laws will mean stricter fishing practices and more safety regulations....it can't be too soon...........