Tobago fishermen to write PM Rowley on flying fish issue involving Barbados

SOURCE – Trinidad Guardian – The All Tobago Fisherfolk Association (AFTA) intends to write to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday to deal with the problem of fishermen from Barbados who AFTA claims are overfishing in Tobago’s water.

AFTA president Curtis Douglas said “enough is enough.”

He said AFTA would be sending letters to all concerned, since the “overfishing by the Bajans are causing fish processors in Tobago to go out of business and the employees sent home.”

Douglas said the Bajans have been “plaguing the Tobagonians for years.”

He said during the COVID-19 pandemic the fish population increased. However, he said for the last year, fleets of Bajan vessels have been operating in Tobago’s waters illegally.

When asked he said the vessels can be identified as Bajan because of the identification markings on the boat. He said when the flying fish is overfished it creates a greater problem since many other commercial species depend on them for food.

He said this creates a shortage of commercial species causing higher prices on the retail market. Douglas said in February 2022 he raised the issue with THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine “but it was not addressed.”

On Saturday Nikesha Pantin-Charles, the Secretary of Agriculture in the THA advised Guardian Media to contact Assemblyman Nigel Taitt who she said has the portfolio of Marine Resources and Fisheries.

When contacted Taitt said he would not be able to comment until he has further information. (Trinidad Guardian)

PHOTO: Trinidad Guardian