Fisherfolk see progress but issues outstanding

While acknowledging that significant improvements had been made in the fishing industry, the head of the fisherfolk association in Barbados, Vernol Nicholls, has said there are issues that still need to be addressed.

The president of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organization (BARNUFO) said she was pleased with the progress made in the last three years.

Speaking during the reopening of the Tent Bay Fishing Complex in St Joseph this morning, she said the Government had shown its commitment to improving the sector.

“The improvement in the infrastructure in our fish markets across the island is timely and it allows for a cohesive community and harnessing of traditional knowledge among the users of these facilities and BARNUFO.

“While some may think that development means getting rid of the old for the new, history has shown that we can’t move forward without looking back. Tent Bay, like some of our coastal villages, is rich with history, and the opening of the refurbished fish market speaks to the adage – marrying the old with the new,” Nicholls said.

“From the time of the creation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, we saw your passion and effort to transform this industry through infrastructure development and upgrades. We are seeing the commitment of the Government to the fisheries sector becoming a true reality. Much of the work has started and in keeping with the small-scale fisheries guidelines we now look forward to seeing some of the burning issues in the industry being addressed so that the development of the sector continues,” she added.

Vernol Nicholls, president of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organization

Nicholls said BARNUFO’s major concerns related to the improvement of facilities, the provision of safe harbours for fishing vessels and social security for fisherfolk.

“BARNUFO is committed to working with the Government on these priority areas and we thank you for your continued interest in the industry,” she said.

Nicholls said the organisation was about to embark on two major projects that would utilize technology in advancing development.

She revealed that Blue Digital, a project funded by the UNDP Accelerated Lab, is a pilot experiment that will apply digital tools and solutions to improve segments of the Blue Economy.

Nicholls explained that Project Digfish, funded by the Barbados Environmental Conservation Trust, would pilot the installation of 30 pelagic data system (PDS) vessel tracking devices on 30 small vessels in an effort to promote the ecosystem approach to fisheries in Barbados.

She said another project, Ifish, concluded in May.