MUCH HAS BEEN SAID RECENTLY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR FISHERMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THIS RESOURCE.

I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF OBSERVING THE DEBATE ON THE ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT (THE SENATE) AND THEREFORE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HLPFUL TO REPRODUCE SOME OF THE PROCEEDINGS, AS WELL AS MY OWN REFLECTIONS ON THE ISSUE.

HOPE I DO NOT BORE YOU TO DEATH IN THE PROCESS!

EARL


.........


Tufton touts modernisation of fishing industry
published: Saturday | May 26, 2007

Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer


Opposition Senator Christopher Tufton yesterday failed to secure the establishment of a joint select committee to assess the state of the fishing industry.

Instead, the Government majority in the Senate amended his resolution, mandating that his recommendations for modernising the industry be passed on to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for consideration and possible implementation.

In his presentation, Senator Tufton made several recommendations for improving the industry, the lot of fishermen, their families and communities. Among other things, he wants the fishermen to be introduced to modern fishing methods, a restriction on the number of entrants to the industry, retraining of those getting out activities, and the establishment of a comprehensive financing scheme for the industry.

Senator Tufton, the Jamaica Labour Party candidate for South West St. Elizabeth, was speaking in support of a motion he had introduced earlier calling for the setting up of a joint select committee of Parliament to address the challenges facing the fishing industry.

Another highlight of his presentation was a suggestion that a new credit scheme be established for the industry, bringing together the fishermen's cooperatives, the credit union movement and the Government. This "comprehensive financial structure" would, he suggested, not just provide loan funds, but savings and insurance for fishermen.

He failed to win government backing for the joint select committee; however, the resolution was amended with a provision instead for his suggestions to be forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for consideration and possible implementation.

This did not go down well with the Opposition members, with Senator Anthony Johnson, leader of opposition business, asserting that his side "totally" rejected the amendment.

Decline in fish catches

The motion was introduced against the background of a significant decline in fish catches in Jamaica. Government statistics indicate, Tufton said, that in 2005, the country's fish catch was approximately 15.8 million pounds (approximately 7,185 metric tonnes). Data for 2006 suggest a catch of just over 24 million pounds, he said, but added that this included conch and lobster catches.

In the meantime, he said, as stocks decline, an increasing number of fishermen and their families and other dependents are finding it impossible to make a living from the industry.

Estimates differ on the number of persons involved in the fishing industry, but according to Senator A.J. Nicholson, leader of government business, the industry employs approximately 40,000 fishermen directly, with another 300,000 benefiting indirectly.

While acknowledging that the fishing industry faced significant challenges, Senator Nicholson dismissed any suggestion that the situation was as dire as was beingsuggested.

As stocks decline, an increasing number of fishermen and their families and other dependents are finding it impossible to make a living from the industry.


..................


Fisheries debate - Hope for fishing industry
published: Monday | May 28, 2007


The Government last Friday outlined a range of measures aimed at resuscitating the local fishing industry, on which approximately 40,000 fishermen and 300,000 others rely directly or indirectly for a living.

Senator A.J. Nicholson, Leader of Government Business in the Senate, speaking in a debate on the state of the industry, in the Upper House, sought to assure his colleagues that the administration was fully aware of the needs of the industry, and those involved and was pursuing appropriate measures to meet these needs. He cited, in particular, the development of a national fisheries policy, and a new Fisheries Act to be enacted this legislative year.


As for specific initiatives, he highlighted, among other things, scientific programmes aimed at managing fishing capacity to prevent overfishing, restoring depleted fish stocks, combating poaching (with Brazilian assistance), introducing new methods of growing lobsters under controlled conditions, developing a niche for oyster production, and the possible development of commercial exploitation of the diamond back squid, in collaboration with the Japanese.

Additionally, he said, young men, particularly in inner-city and marginalised rural communities were being trained and provided with financing to start their own backyard ornamental fish operation, as a in some instances, to their struggling marine fishing endeavours.

He disclosed as well that the fisheries division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands would shortly be made an executive agency, with a chief executive officer to be appointed by July 1. This, he said, was an important development in the ongoing transformation of the industry to meet 21st century needs and expectations.

The Senate debate on the fishing industry was set in motion by a resolution introduced by Opposition member, Christopher Tufton.

The Tufton resolution (reported on in Saturday's Gleaner) drew attention to the current state of the fishing industry and called for significant state intervention to improve the situation.


...............
COMMENTARY

This time, it's personal
published: Monday | May 28, 2007
Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

The figures and facts cited in the debate on the fishing industry by both sides on the floor of the Senate on Friday may have been mere abstractions to some. For this reporter, observing from above, however, the issues raised reflected the lifeblood coursing through generations.
It was small scale fishing from their base at Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach that sustained my great-grandfather, Richard 'Sonnie' Moxam (1864-1939), his brothers and their children. That was the legacy he bequeathed to my grandfather Norman Moxam and his 12 children. My father, Carl Moxam, followed, as a matter of course, and did well by his 11 children.
The picture has changed dramatically, however, for those who have followed. Gone is the assurance of a steady income from the sea - those glistening strings of snapper, weighed by mammoth scales, or those giant lobsters destined for tables rich.
Gone too is the bustle and excitement of 'Maakit Day' at Calabash Bay and nearby Great Bay, nestled against the giant Pedro Bluff. Those days when jovial vendors from the Malvern Hills swooped down on the plains for fair exchange with their fisher friends - the former with yam and pumpkin fresh from the vine; the latter with fish a-plenty for the homeward journey up the steep incline.
Legend of 'Pugilist'
Who has not heard the legend of 'Pugilist', the strong, squat vendor, who, with giant basket atop a steady head, would go marching, almost at a run, back up to Munro, atthe summit of the hill, just in time with fish, fresh for the boarders' supper? Some of today's beach exchanges are not so benign. Just as fresh, they come by sea - parcels of lead or powder so pure - but with deadly intent or consequences as dire.
The jokes of old are not so ready these days, on the lips of honest men who return from futile trips with nothing to show but mounting debt and more reasons to fret.
So, when next you come for your annual literary fix, at picturesque Calabash Bay, spare a thought for what used to be, and what, perhaps, will be.
The wrath of the dispossessed makes for moving prose and poetry, too.

ok. Mr Moxam we know where you are coming from with your polictical point of view.

JUST LIKE YOU SAID.....BOOO.....RING.

Thank you Mr. Moxam!
You have laid it out for us: What Mr. Tufton was seeking to do and what he has proposed to improve the situation for our fishermen. Then you reported on what the government claims it is doing.
I particularly like your own personal experience in the third article though. Maybe you should post it separately, so that it does not get lost behind the other pieces.

Every hog sey him water is the best. Calabash Bay? And tanks fah the info, but it so boooring.

It seems that the problems of off-shore and deep sea fishermen are not the same ones faced by the on-shore fishing industry. These are two different issues and should be treated as such. It is disingenious to lump the two together; it leaves one to wonder that it appears to be just talk without any plan to address the plight of the fishermen.

Boring for those whose livelihood is not tied up in the fishing industry. But when over 10% of Jamaica's population is affected by what happens in this industry, no one should call it boring and we should all seek out more information regarding this. We should also pressure our politicians into making more changes and protecting our waters and fishermen to an even greater extent.

Thank you very much Mr. Moxam for keeping us informed on what is happening within the government regarding the #1 industry in our community. And to Oldtimer and Mi2, I challenge you to think about how boring this topic is the next time you are dining on a nice escovitch fish. If there weren't people out there fighting to keep the fishing industry alive you soon will not be able to find any fish at all.

I stand accused.
And we should fight and have been fighting.
The struggle is always a welcoming one, but sometimes the presentation is not always appetizing.

I suppose it could be boring to someone who had never invested time and money on an unfruitful fishing trip, or knew no-one who depended on fishing, or who didn't depend directly or indirectly on fishing, or even to someone who did so depend but wasn't able to make the connection to their own situation.

To the person of normal sensitivity however, even in the absence of a vested economic interest or personal emotional involvement, the plight of the descendents of generations of fishermen, who themselves have families to provide for, must strike a chord.

I could go further and say that no man is an island and we are all our brothers' keepers and should be concerned with (and preferably responsive to) another's trouble, but that would be perhaps venturing into sentimentality and piety.

I don't think it's asking too much however to at least be respectful of someone else who does express concern and draw attention to the trouble.

It seems callous to dismiss the discussion as boring, and the person who has done so might like to picture themselves in the place of the empty-handed fisherman returning to an expectant family.

As I wrote I personally found it sobering and the image cut me like a knife.

I don’t get it. As a regular visitor to the community and this website, I have been able to observe Earl Moxam’s contribution to his hometown via his writing and through his radio reports.

As someone from a small town in the States, myself, I am aware how difficult it can be to bring national attention to your ‘small town’ issues. Yet, it seems, whenever he makes an effort to do just that on behalf of Treasure Beach, there are a few detractors just lurking in the shadows waiting to come out and attack him, or other well meaning messengers like him.

My advice is that Treasure Beach is too small a community and too precious a place for its efforts to be undermined by disunity. If you pull together you will get far more done!

Why shoot the messenger?

Luvit, I agree with you. Perhaps some people have not taken the time to read the commentary in which Earl expressed his own thoughts on the decline of the fishing industry. So I have isolated it again from the newspaper. I hope TBNET will carry it.


This time, it's personal
published: Monday | May 28, 2007

Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

The figures and facts cited in the debate on the fishing industry by both sides on the floor of the Senate on Friday may have been mere abstractions to some. For this reporter, observing from above, however, the issues raised reflected the lifeblood coursing through generations.

It was small scale fishing from their base at Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach that sustained my great-grandfather, Richard 'Sonnie' Moxam (1864-1939), his brothers and their children. That was the legacy he bequeathed to my grandfather Norman Moxam and his 12 children. My father, Carl Moxam, followed, as a matter of course, and did well by his 11 children.

The picture has changed dramatically, however, for those who have followed. Gone is the assurance of a steady income from the sea - those glistening strings of snapper, weighed by mammoth scales, or those giant lobsters destined for tables rich.

Gone too is the bustle and excitement of 'Maakit Day' at Calabash Bay and nearby Great Bay, nestled against the giant Pedro Bluff. Those days when jovial vendors from the Malvern Hills swooped down on the plains for fair exchange with their fisher friends - the former with yam and pumpkin fresh from the vine; the latter with fish a-plenty for the homeward journey up the steep incline.

Who has not heard the legend of 'Pugilist', the strong, squat vendor, who, with giant basket atop a steady head, would go marching, almost at a run, back up to Munro, at the summit of the hill, just in time with fish, fresh for the boarders' supper?

Some of today's beach exchanges are not so benign. Just as fresh, they come by sea - parcels of lead or powder so pure - but with deadly intent or consequences as dire.

The jokes of old are not so ready these days, on the lips of honest men who return from futile trips with nothing to show but mounting debt and more reasons to fret.

So, when next you come for your annual literary fix, at picturesque Calabash Bay, spare a thought for what used to be, and what, perhaps, will be.

The wrath of the dispossessed makes for moving prose and poetry, too.

Rebecca I hear you loud and clear.Earl you are so RIGHT," the poor men return wiht mounting debt and fretration. Engine mash up,pots gone, the list goes on. My heart goes out to them everyday. I lived through it so I know it.

The Fishing Industries has been neglected for years ,the fishing banks and shoals are over fish .Fishermen need to be more educated about the ecology of the sea ,there were no guideline to follow ,just set your traps ,cast your nets as long as you are catching fish everything was ok ,law was impose but never enforce ,it was against the law to used the inch mesh fishing wire or net to fish with because they\re catching the smaller fishes but still the wire were still imported into the island .Fish traps stealing has cause some of the fishermen to set their traps under water , they retrive them by dragging a heavy piece of iron on the seafloor which destory the corals .Microscopic plant that feed the smaller fishes grow on these coral so once there is a gap in the food chain it will affect the eco-system ;also fishermen outside of Treasure Beach often times uses explosive to shock the fish and destory their habitation .A cheap way to help is artificial reefs and enforcing the law .Anyway this was present to the house a year ago so i think its all election talk .Thanks MR MOXAM for reminding me of those days ;MS. REBACCA thank you very much for that escovitch fish i had mine with bammy.

Its a burning shame that people allow politics to cloud their minds to the point where they turn a blind eye to the growing crisis facing fishermen. From the early 1970's as a young boy I recall walking to pedro as we said then to buy fish on the seaside and returned empty handed as the fishermen did not catch enough to sell. This website highlights several of those who brave the sea in searh of a livlihood for their families and food for the community and never returned. Many fatherless children,widows and other dependents of men who perished at sea cry out for help. Hence,one would hope that good sense would prevail and partisan politics would be put aside in the welfare of the fishermen and their families.When a fisherman goes missing or dies at sea its normal for everyone to show concern.The sea is not partial be the person JLP or PNP.People, this might be a good opportunity for everyone to see who is really concerned about preserving the ailing fishing industry and causing an exidous of young people from the community.

Thanks for sharing Mr.Moxam. Its for us to draw our conclusions.Further, I hope in the future you may consider highlighting the plight of some of the families who lost their bread winners at sea.

It is unfortunate that there are those among us who would find this kind of information boring and political. It affects so many lives and there are those of us who have benefited in the past; and continue to do so. We all need to know what is happening in an Industry that has always played a pivotal role in the development of the community. The articles all speak to facts, I fail to see the politics or boredom. Let us not become personal with issues that affect so many lives.

Ironic, isn't it, and quite foretelling that the estimable Mr.Moxam, when earlier on this forum was urged by many to run for local office, didn't demur in the usual fashion -- but firmly said that he wasn't keen on being crucified post-election, also in the usual fashion.

Cassandra or not, the man's to be applauded as a realist and continual contributor of critical commentary on a wide spectrum of problems in Jamaica that otherwise
might easily get swept under the usual rug.

That he writes well is just as compelling as his conscience.

Native,
I agree with you on the need to highlight the plight of families that have lost their bread winners to the sea. It is a project I have wanted to take on for sometime, but it requires more time than I have at the moment. As soon a I can, however, I will pursue it.
I have been thinking for sometime, though, that what is really needed is for a foundation or trust fund to be etablished to assist particularly the young chldren of fishermen who perish a sea.
This is something that could be done if the community found the will to come togeher and do it properly. I suspect that if it is done credibly it could attract national and international support.
I recall that, following the Snowboy disaster in 1963, in which so many men from Treasure Beach perished (along with others from elsewhere in the island) Prime Minister Sir Alexander Bustamante initiated a fund with a personal donation (The Gleaner has a list of the donations and the donors).
I believe, unfortunately, that after the initial outpouring, the funds dried up and the families had to fend for themselves, with varying degrees of success (or failure) in the years that followed.
More recently, a trust fund was established in Whitehouse, Westmoreland for children left behind in similar circumstances.
It would be a great thing, either for Treasure Beach, or for all fishermen, through the cooperative movement, for a similar scheme to be established.
It has always been difficult to secure insurance for fishermen, by the way, because it was felt that their vocation was too risky. I believe, however, that it is becoming a bit less risky, thanks to modern technology, and perhaps because the safety message is finally getting through to more of our fihermen.

WHEN I SAY BORING I ONLY MEANT IT IN THE SENSE OF READING AND READING.SORRY EARL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.FORGIVE ME.

Thanks to THE FISHERMAN and his sacrifices,which has resulted in us benefiting from his son Earl with his continued efforts on behalf of our community.PLEASE let us be more civil to each other and our views without being so partisan; why destroy a discussion that is so touching to all from Treasure Beach. Earl,that FISHERMAN would want nothing less of you,keep it up my friend.In Arce Sitam-Quis Occultabit.

In Canada, when they faced the same plight they put a moratorium on fishing which of course left a lot of people jobless and penniless in the short term and they ended up having to find alternative work in industries they knew nothing about. However, years later the stocks have replenished and fishing is back to what it once was, this time the fishermen are more cautious about scraping out the sea for every last fish. I'm not sure this would work in Jamaica and who would enforce it. I hate the thought of fishermen out of work for years and years while the stocks replenish. I can't say I have a solution...wish I did.

Just a thought,maybe if the Jamaican government brings the plight of the fishing industry to the american government and ask for assistants in granting temporary work visa for the fishermen while they try to rejuvinate the industry and bring things back to what it was or should be, that way they would still have a livelyhood while they wait.This would probably help in plenty of them turning away from illegal activity for survival.Lots of precious life depends on this business.This would also benifit the american government.

This message is to amazed. I can understand you been confused.
The full picture behind all this feelings from Mr Moxam is all about politics and the new up coming general eletion. No one was concern about the poor fishermen before.

Truth, with all due respect, please read the articles again. Mr. Moxam is reporting facts. Furthermore, he was the main motivator in getting the current tribute to Those Lost At Sea on this site and has been one of the strongest advocates for fisherman and saving the industry I have met. This is not something new but on going.

I wish I did not have to do this, but feel constrained to do so, since my articles under this topic have generated so many comments, some of them adverse and unfair.

Firstly, though, it would be remiss of me not to thank those who generously came forward in defence of my integrity. Since that’s the most important attribute that I claim, it means a lot to me that you felt free to do as you did.

Now, “Truth”, I hope by now you realize how much of a disservice you did to me when you claimed that this “feeling” for fishermen was a sudden phenomenon on my part! Please, follow me down memory lane:
I was born in October, 1963, three months after the Snowboy tragedy in which so many of our own fishermen from Treasure Beach perished. My earliest memories were of the grief, still fresh in the minds and hearts of their relatives and friends. My parents were among those who mourned greatly, considering that my father lost two of his first cousins as well as several other relatives and friends.

I therefore grew up with a keen awareness of the dangers of the sea, even as I learned to appreciate that it was the main source of sustenance for most families in the community. Quite early in my life it became apparent though that I was not destined to be involved directly in the sea. As soon as my father realised that I was beginning to show some academic promise, he decided that, of his eight sons, this one was going to be kept as far from the sea, physically, as he could manage! So, off I went to the fabled Munro College, which, located as it is, at the summit of the Santa Cruz mountain, came to symbolize the zenith of the aspirations of poor parents and their children down on the plains.

So, I was not going to be a fisherman, like my brothers and like my father, and his father before him, but that did not mean that I could not be of some use to those who took that path. I developed a keen interest in the industry, its challenges and rewards, and the ever present safety risks. Tragically, at regular intervals, the old wounds would be reopened and new ones created, as more fishermen were lost at sea, never to be seen again. I particularly remember the loss of Mr. Earl Channer and his crew, and that of Crosby, Miss Audrey’s son and our neighbour in the 1970’s. Those were painful, painful days!

The 1980’s brought more grief and unspeakable pain for the community, as we lost so many more: My cousins, Raymond, Maxie, and Allan. There was Bargie Clarke, Maas Vil (Dicker), Peter McKenzie, Ican’s son, Mark, and many more, as the memorial feature on this very website bears testimony. The loss of my own father and brother-in-law was somewhat different, in that they died in the sea, but not quite, at sea, in the sense that this was not a fishing expedition; they had merely gone for a swim, when a tragic accident occurred. But it was no less painful and significant.

It was on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Snowboy tragedy that I helped to organize an anniversary service and exhibition on security and safety at sea, at Sandy Bank primary school. This was not a one-man show by any means, and I remember, in particular, the tremendous support and leadership offered by my friend, Desmond Henry. We managed to secure the participation of the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, the Office of Disaster Preparedness (as it then was) and the Fisheries Division, among other agencies, and got good coverage from The Gleaner, courtesy of Franklyn McKnight, who also hails from St. Elizabeth. One of the tragic ironies associated with that occasion is that it was only a month later that my cousin, Allan, and his crewmates were lost.

By 1993 I was working as a young reporter with Radio Jamaica. Such was my zeal for the subject of fishing and the challenges facing the fishermen and the industry that I managed to convince my Editor to send a three-member team over to the Pedro Cays to give national attention to these issues. We secured a ride from the Coast Guard and off we went – to North East and Middle Cay, where we spoke to scores of fishermen and then did a week of features on the various issues uncovered.

The years have slipped by since then, but I have never let slip any matter concerning the industry and the interests of the fishermen.

Now, to ‘Looking In’ and ‘Truth’, on to this question of political motives:
Another of my painful memories relates to the 1980 general election. As all of us who lived through that period will recall, it was the most violent election campaign in our history, and Treasure Beach was not spared. Particularly painful for me was that even in the church that I attended the congregation was virtually split right down the middle along partisan political lines! And, in families, brothers and sisters, and cousins dear were not speaking to each other because they held different political loyalties. That taught me a sobering lesson, and it is one that I will never forget. I also would never wish to see Treasure Beach regress to that stage, again.

I take my role as a professional journalist very seriously, and I guard my integrity with equal zeal. For years now, I have been a parliamentary reporter, and it was in that capacity that I observed the debate in the Senate on Dr. Tufton’s motion, essentially calling for decisive action to be taken to revive the fishing industry and the fortunes of those who rely on this industry. I reported on both sides of the debate – giving pride of place to Senator Tufton’s contribution in the Saturday edition of The Gleaner (the day after the debate), and then I gave the government’s side two days later. I also wrote a commentary, sharing my personal perspective on the issue. It was, as I hoped you would have appreciated, a genuine attempt to share from the heart, considering how much I could empathise with the fishermen.

I give thanks for my early orientation in the importance of community action and civic mindedness, from my basic school days with Mrs. Thompson, right through my primary school days with Teacher (ZC) Thompson and all the other teachers I had there – Miss PT, Miss Madge, Miss Bev (she’s now, my good friend, ‘Norms’!), Miss Ditty and several others.

That call to good citizenship was reinforced at Munro, under the guidance of my Headmaster, Mr. Richard Roper, his wife, Mrs. Merle Roper, and many others.

Back in Treasure Beach, Miss Sheila (Hamilton) was a shining example of community leadership, and I treasure her friendship and wisdom to this day. The late Herbert Ebanks from Flagaman was another strong community leader who touched my life.

So, there you have it. My interest is directed at my community and my country. My lifespan to date almost coincides with the period of our political Independence. In that time I have seen every political administration we have elected and, with each, we have made some advances and suffered some setbacks. I suspect that this will continue to be the case, irrespective of which party wins the next election.

As for our community and the constituency, I believe the two young men who are vying to win the upcoming election are both well intentioned. Whoever wins will face significant challenges, however, not least of which will be the fact that he will not have all the resources needed to address all the problems faced by the people of Treasure Beach; not to mention the larger constituency. He would be off to a promising start; however, if he could be assured that, after he is elected, the people of the constituency will unite around a common purpose – the total development of the people, for the benefit of their community and, by extension, the country.

Finally, to ‘Oldtimer’: Peace and love. After all, it was I who spoke in the first place of possibly “boring” you!

JUST A REMINDER



Missing at sea: A tragic legacy
published: Sunday | October 10, 2004


Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
ONE MONTH after Hurricane Ivan's visit, two young fishermen are still missing, their boat savagely snapped from its moorings and cast onto the high seas.
Extensive searches in Jamaican waters and in the vicinity of the Caymanas and Cuba have not yielded any sighting of the missing boat.
Hursley Moxam and Rohan 'Junior' Rexburn, were aboard the Ocean Queen, an 80-ft boat, anchored off the coast of Black River during the approach of Hurricane Ivan, on September 10. Nearby, Hursley's father, Clarence 'Moses' Moxam, and two crew members were also battling to keep a second boat, Miss Rita, under control but to no avail.
After three days on the turbulent seas, Moses and his crew were sighted and lifted off the deck of the Miss Rita by a Jamaica Defence Force rescue team, off Cayman Brac. Now he worries daily about his 26-year-old son, anxious for word or even the slightest hint that he might be alive.
FAMILIAR EXPERIENCE
For Moses, this is an experience with which he and his family in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, are all too familiar.
On July 2, 1963, when he was only 12, Moses lost his father, Oliver Moxam, who perished along with 39 other men aboard the Snowboy.
The boat, en route from Kingston to the Pedro Cays, reportedly capsized and rapidly sank to the ocean floor, leaving many south coast families and the entire nation in mourning.
That settled it for young Moses. With his mother, Doris, left to fend for him and his 10 siblings, he decided that he had to find a way to help the family, and the only option was in the sea in the wake of his father.
"I didn't have a choice. My mother had no one to turn to and I had to help her and the other children," he reminisced.
For young fishermen life is full of hard knocks, and Moses grew up quickly. Nine years later, he was in charge of his own boat, operating from a Honduran cay, when he and a young cousin, Crosby, were caught in a hurricane.
"That morning when we woke up to go to sea there was no sight of the hurricane. The forecasters said it had moved away, so all the fishermen went out," he recalled.
Then the sky suddenly got black and they knew they were in deep trouble. Things only got worse when the boat developed engine trouble.
Having lost engine power, the two young fishermen were unable to resist the now boisterous waves and winds. Their canoe was sent crashing against the reefs and broke in two.
STILL EMOTIONAL
In desperation, Moses and Crosby did their best to secure themselves in the stern section of the boat and hope for the best. Fatigue eventually set in and they drifted off to sleep.
When Moses woke up, he was alone. Somehow, Crosby had slipped off the shattered remnant of their boat never to be seen again.
"I felt like I was going crazy when I found out that he was not there with me," Moses recalled, his voice still emotional more than 30 years later.
Later that day he spotted a "Man-O-War" bird, which gave him hope that land may not be too far off. At sundown he reached a sandbar.
From there he caught sight of coconut trees swaying in the breeze on a nearby cay. Eventually he made it across to the cay, which had been abandoned. But there was some sustenance to be found for the starving seafarer.
"I drank about 18 coconuts and sucked three bird eggs. Then I found a drum half full of water left by Jamaican fishermen who had been there previously, so I was okay for the time being," he explained.
After four days on the cay he was rescued by the crew of the Honduran boat, Miss Lisa, skippered by "Captain Rofee".
On board, he had his many wounds treated and bound up, before being transferred to another boat, The Hornet, owned by another Jamaican, Byron Hill, the man who, ironically, had owned The Snowboy, on which his father, Oliver Moxam, perished a decade earlier.
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
Fast forward to 1979, and Moses is again in trouble at sea.
By then, he had been living and fishing in Nicaragua for sometime, having met a local girl and started a family. But with the political instability caused by the bloody overthrow of President Anastasio Somoza Debayle by the advancing Sandinistas, he headed out to sea once again with his young family, the oldest of the three children being only three and a half.
His intended destination, he revealed, was a nearby island. But once again the elements intervened and his boat was cast adrift.
After battling the elements for hours as he sought to keep control of the boat, Moses fell exhausted into the bottom of the vessel. His two-year-old son, Hursley, anxious for his father, fetched a cup of water and poured it on his face, pleading, "Please Daddy, don't die!"
The family survived and eventually made it to Costa Rica where they stayed for one year before returning to Jamaica.
Today, Moses waits anxiously for word of that son, Hursley, who is facing his own battles at sea.
NOT GIVING UP
Another son, Kern, recently returned from Cuba where he carried out his own search for his brother, with assistance from Cuban fishermen.
"We went far out and visited all the Cuban Cays and did not find them," Kern told The Sunday Gleaner disconsolately.
But he is not giving up hope of finding his brother and his crewmate.
"The Cubans suggested that the currents would have taken the boat into the Gulf of Mexico, so that's where I'm heading next," he reported.
It's a hope shared by Moses.
"I know he's alive. He's a good skipper and he will be doing everything to survive," asserted the colourful seaman who, more than most, knows about surviving at sea.

Dear Mr. "Oldtimer" I note that you have found it necessary to seek Mr. Moxam's forgiveness. Wise move I would say. I'm sure that Mr. Moxam is more than happy to forgive your ignorance; because I truly believe that is the space from which you spoke. I am happy that someone, in the form of Earl Moxam has the courage to speak the truth and present the facts as they are, without embellishment. I can speak to the man's character and integrity, as I know him personlly.

Mr. Moxam,
I implore you not to be daunted by anyone who chose to put selfish motives and cheap talk before the interest of the community. All of the persons I have spoken with consider you as a forthright and reputable promoter of development in the community.

The matter relating to the plight of fishermen is a current issue recently discussed in parliament and highlighted in the newspaper.

One wise man once said, "There is none so blind as he who have eyes and fail to see."

Earl keep on doing wat u doing an nuh watch nuh face u are doing an excellent job.......

'We need insurance too'
St Elizabeth fishers bat for security ahead of hurricane season
HORACE HINES, Observer West staff reporter
Thursday, May 31, 2007



Fishers at Parotee fishing village work at mending fish pots. /Photo: Horace Hines

Parotee, St Elizabeth

On the eve of the 2007 hurricane season, fisher folk along the Pedro Banks have criticised insurance companies for not providing coverage for their fishing boats and equipment.

"You can't walk in an insurance office and ask them to insure our boats and engines, and this is of great concern to us," fisherman Evan Simms told the OBSERVER WEST from the Parotee fishing village on Tuesday. "When you buy a car for $400,000, the insurance company is ready to insure that, but they don't insure the boats."

But commercial underwriting manager at Globe Insurance Company Jason Goldsmith explained that because of the high risks associated with fishing vessels, insurance companies in Jamaica have opted not to insure them.

"Because of the various risks that come with a commercial hull (vessel), such as their age, the terms under which they operate... we don't underwrite them," he said.

At the same time, the fishermen have lashed out at what they say is government's failure to provide financial support for the fishing industry in the aftermath of hurricanes Ivan and Emily in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) representative for South-West St Elizabeth, Senator Christopher Tufton, for his part, said the government had reneged on a promise it made five years ago for the establishment of a loan scheme for fishermen in that parish.

In the wake of the disasters, Tufton had recommended that government issue 'soft' loans to local fishermen to help them replace lost equipment and damaged boats. He made the pitch on behalf of hundreds of fishers from St Elizabeth whose losses amounted to roughly $300 million.

Earlier this week, Tufton was again championing their cause.
"I don't think they are looking for handouts. What they want is to be recognised as a legitimate industry," Tufton said. "The fact of the matter is that sugar and banana have gotten substantial bail-outs, to the tune of millions of dollars every year - and I am not critical of that - but what I am saying is that the fishing industry is a much more traditional industry, and has been around much longer and therefore must be looked at," he added.

As the hurricane season sets in, Clive Watson, a fisherman at the Galeon Fishing Village, also in St Elizabeth, has hailed the charity organisation Food for the Poor for its support of the fishing industry.

"First time you would have people from (Ministry of Agriculture) fisheries division come and look at damage to fishing equipment and our boats, but they don't do that anymore," he said, adding that over the years fishermen have received much-needed support from Food for the Poor.

Mr Earl Moxam i have read the debate on this site ever so often especially yours and without a doubt you surely have gone above and beyond the norm in representing your community in such a positive and productive way keep up the good work. Quite a bit of history lesson on the people lost at sea some of the names i know also a few of who is still missing i know personally just reading the article you wrote going so far back brought tears to my eyes , some day i will see you being the grand marshall of a parade marching through Treasure Beach its not much to offer because no price tag can be put on your work and involvement in and around the country .
Keep up your good work sir.

i too would like to say to you mr moxam we need more positive people like you in the world what a history i have one question for you.did you ever think of writing a book? keep up the good work my friend one love.

As a journalist who have known and worked with Mr. Moxam for a few years, it's literally shocking to see some of the comments seeking to align him with partisan politics and effectively trying to tear the man's integrity.

I for one would be the first to say to your detractors sir, you are indeed a gentleman in this profession. A profession that daily pleads for more people like you: committed to the task, fair, thorough, balanced and most of all acutely meticulous.

You see, one must understand that a good journalist and even bad ones, for they do exist, must always act in the interest of the public. The job becomes twice as hard when we do what we know is required of us, in the manner that it's required of us and such unfair and unreasonable accusations emerge.

For two years I covered the agriculture beat and it happened to be one of the most difficult assignments because just too many people undervalued the sector that is the most important. For them almost every thing was boring. The bottom line is that once some individuals feel that they are not intimate with an issue they believe that it should get no attention.

For the detractors, I may tread dangerous grounds here but you will have to attack me too. The Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, whom I believe, is a fighter for the industry always says agriculture cannot die once people have to eat to live.

I wonder if you have ever thought about that. I wonder if you have ever heard of what’s been happening in the fishing sector. And I wonder if you have ever met a journalist or a true community man like Earl Moxam?

(Silence) Your apology is acknowledged. I hear it loud and clear.

Much respect to Mr. Moxam. I know many families in TB who rely on the fishing industry to live. They are good hard working people. Please keep doing all you can to help them.

Keep up the good work Earl. We are so privileged to be blessed with such an intelligent, fortright and humble son of the soil. May the good Lord continue to bless you as you make such positive impact on our lives.

Mrs. R, thank you very much!
This means a lot.
Thanks also to everyone else for your support.
Now, its time to move on.

Mr. Moxam is championing a wonderful cause: the plight of the fishermen. To those who merely eat the delicious and fresh fish they are served, primarily tourists, I suggest they learn more about what is involved in being a fisherman. These men are willing to work, but they often cannot take their boats out for 10 days to two weeks at a time because of the rough seas. When they do go out, they are gone for nearly 24 hours, including during the night. Not knowing what will be in their traps, they must still pay for gas and oil -- plus ice to keep any possible catch fresh; and one must not forget the cost of building the traps, as well as the wear and tear on the boats and engines. And, pulling pots is unbelievably demanding physical labor. It is not unusual to see boats come in with a catch that is worth less than the money the fishermen had to pay to go out to sea. And, this does not count the fact that they make no salary for their time. If one wants a comparison, think of having to run a well-equipped minibus up and down the roads for hours on end without knowing if they will be lucky enough to find even a single paying passenger.

Yes, technology is helping, and things have gotten somewhat safer. Having a GPS readily helps them locate their traps, but it doesn't guarantee that the traps haven't been robbed; and it doesn't guarantee that the traps haven't been mashed by the weather or been made useless by cutter fish. Cell phones enable the fishermen to call for help, but they only work about 17 miles from land; most of the fishermen go out farther than that, and their cell phones are of no use in the far sea. If you want to realize how "safe" fishing is, all you need do is to stand on the beach if a boat is an hour or two late and look at the faces of those who are waiting. I recall an advertisement on behalf of the police department in a U.S. city; the headline read something like, "Even If You Hate Your Job, Your Family Knows You'll Be Home Tonight." That could also apply to the Treasure Beach fishermen.

What was written was not boring. Boring is the looks on the faces of the fishermen in bad weather who want nothing more than to be able to go out to sea to earn enough money to support their families. Boring is the look on all the unemployed youth who have dropped out of school, have no trade, and realize they will never be fishermen because even the experienced and willing adult fishermen often have nothing to do.

I do not profess to know the answers. But, I respect Mr. Moxam for his honesty and straightforward words. He is not playing politics. He cares about the fishermen and wants to do something to help their situation.

Karen well said! this was well written-all my family being Fishermen all their lives, I can truly say you have summed it up well. Earl continue the publicity to help the Fishermen,I still hear the pain in their voice when they come back from the rough seas,only to know the engine foot mash up...no money made to cover the original expense..my heart goes out to every fisherman.

I know Earl Moxam. I grew up with Earl Moxam. I am his sister and I can say without a doubt, when it comes to his profession, Earl Moxam does not have a partisan bone in his body. He has no agenda other than to tell the story so the people can be informed. After all, that is what he is paid to do and what he enjoys doing too. His only agenda is to be of assistance, in his own way to the people whose livlihood depends largely, if not solely, on the whims of the ocean. To suggest otherwise shows a total lack of appreciation for the subject matter and the messenger. So many of us who could, left JA for what he considered, greener pastures. But not him. Earl has stayed home to try to make a difference in his own country. I admire that. I also admire the wonderful people who have come to his defense here; but like Earl and everyone else, I also admire the detractors who, having seen the error of their opinons, were big enough to say so. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but please, it doesn't have to be caustic to be understood. Old time people used to say, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything." Hmmm, food for thought when there's no more fish for food, huh?
Peace and blessings, everyone.

Moxcom
Like Oprah Winfrey said many times, when you are in the public eye, your back has to be broad to take the good and bad. Don't be insulted by the negatives, they are worthwhile sometimes, because there is a lesson and a deep message for all. Your brother is giving a wonderful service to his country and we are all proud of him, just like you are.

As happens with many threads on this forum, once again the main topic is no longer being discussed.

Unless someone has something to add regarding new information concerning the fishing industry, this thread will be closed.

Someone mention about insurance for fishermen i remember sometime in the early eighty a repersentive for an insurance company came to Great Bay trying to sell life insurance to fishermen ,i then ask how long after the men are missing will the family be compensated ,the reply " not until a body is been produce (proof of death) i then ask why , reply , the fishermen maybe still alive and could be living an another island and that was lost time i heard anything about insurance for fishermen .

Agree with you, One Son.
That is one of the greatest difficulties the fishermen face.
Maybe, as safety standards improve though the insurance companies will reconsider their position.

I'm sitting here wondering how poor fishermen, barely able to even buy gas for their next trip, could afford life insurance. Then this thought occured to me: The Fishermen's Coop would be a perfect tool to introduce the concept of an Insurance Group just for fishermen.

Similar to the way in which "Lodge" members support their own, the Coop could start a group fund wherein members would make monthly contributions, for example. Managed properly, this fund could eventually be used for the good of the fishers' dependent.

Insurance is defined as the "Law Of Large Numbers" and certainly, if enough people became interested, I do believe this would be a feasable idea.

Good, constructive thinking One Man. That's a very good idea.