Fish prices stable despite hurricane damage – Minister

Blue Economy Minister Adrian Forde has sought to reassure Barbadians that there will be no immediate increase in fish prices in the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s devastation of the fishing industry.

The assurance comes as further details emerge of the extent of the destruction and damage of the island’s fisheries. Of the 222 boats affected, 64 have been completely written off, and several others have sunk, officials said Friday.

“I just want to say and give Barbadians the rested calm assurance that there will be no immediate increase in the price of fish, albeit that everything remains equal,”  Forde declared during a press briefing at his Warrens Tower II offices. He emphasised that price stability will be maintained unless it is affected by international conditions beyond local control. “When I say so, I’m speaking directly of any international exogenous shots that we unfortunately would not be able to buffer because of their international nature.”

Supporting this assurance, major fish processors have confirmed to the minister that there will be no immediate or long-term shortage of fish, Forde told reporters. “They have also said in one voice that there will be no immediate or long-term shortage of fish,” he said. He highlighted the processors’ extensive experience, with many having been in the business for decades.

“They are well equipped to handle any perceived shortages of fish. They will do what they have to do in terms of their operations, and they are willing, ready, and able to partner, as they have been doing for a very long time, to partner with us to ensure that Barbadians are able to have fish as part of their palette.”

As the fishing industry transitions into the off-season, the end of the large open sea season has resulted in decreased boat activity as vessels undergo routine maintenance. Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox explained: “We should be aware though that it is the end of the large pelagic season. So at this point, the boats would not be very active. They would either be hauling up for maintenance.”

This seasonal pattern is a normal part of the industry’s operations, as Forde reaffirmed: “What you are seeing here in terms of this happens all the time. Every time around June or July the season ends. These guys were doing it for the last forty years.”

Dr Cox detailed the efforts made to lift and repair damaged boats, which has been a challenging yet successful operation. “To date, of course, I may have missed a few boats, but at the end of [Thursday], we were at 123 boats lifted in less than two weeks, which is a fantastic effort knowing that some of these vessels are 35 tons,” she reported. “Today we’re lifting a vessel that is 56 feet long. So this is really a serious effort.”

But the process has not been without its issues. Concerns have arisen regarding the logistics and availability of resources like metal drums used for propping boats. Dr Cox said: “We have had some logistical challenges in lifting and repairing boats, particularly with the availability of metal drums for propping them.”

To address these concerns, efforts are being made to procure and distribute metal props to replace the drums, ensuring safer storage for the boats. “We are working on procuring and distributing metal props to replace the drums. This will provide safer storage and facilitate better repair work,” she added.

Despite these challenges, Dr Cox praised the efforts of volunteer divers who have been instrumental in the recovery process. “We have had an incredible response from volunteer divers who are assisting in the recovery of sunken vessels and other underwater operations. Their work has been invaluable in helping us assess and address the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl.

“Tomorrow we start the operations where we’ve identified 26 sunken boats, but we will not know the official figures until we start to lift them up. So tomorrow is a very intense diving operation.

“We had a briefing with them this morning, and we have over, I believe, 25 volunteer divers that will be trying to get the partially submerged and sunken boats out. We have, from the underwater robots, boats that are sandwiched between ice boxes and concrete slabs. So it’s quite challenging, and we pray for the safety of the divers tomorrow, but the briefing for that starts at 7.45 a.m. tomorrow in the complex.”

The chief fisheries officer highlighted the community spirit and dedication of these volunteers: “The divers have shown tremendous commitment, working tirelessly to support the industry during this difficult time. Their efforts are a testament to the resilience and solidarity of our fishing community.”