Fisherfolk navigate uncertain waters after Beryl

Two weeks after the fishing community was left reeling after Hurricane Beryl’s storm surges wreaked havoc on the island’s coastal infrastructure, the impact has been particularly severe on the south-to-west coast of the island, leaving many veteran fishermen facing significant losses.

The category 4 cyclone damaged or destroyed approximately 90 per cent of the island’s fishing fleet, with 222 boats affected, over 60 written off, and more than 120 still submerged in what was considered the safe harbour of the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex.

Steven Bourne, 72, a venerable figure in a family lineage steeped in maritime traditions, lost two boats in the disaster.

“I lost two wooden ice boats, and another vessel suffered extensive damage,” Bourne told Barbados TODAY. “That put me out approximately $300 000. Just over $150 000 per boat.” He added that the damaged vessel was worth between $250 000 and $260 000.

Bourne’s nephew, Neil Cougar Bourne, highlighted the broader impact on the fishing community. “Right now it’s a grey cloud. Can’t be neither silver lining. Because you have a whole fishing sector that is completely out of boats,” he said.

Neil Bourne also addressed criticisms about why boats were not moved to safety, explaining the logistical challenges faced by modern fishing vessels. “We got boats up there 40 and 10 feet. Five, 11 and 12 tons of boats. Boats up there that weigh 15 tons and all that kind of thing. So just don’t voice your opinion if you don’t know what’s going on. It hurts the fishermen,” he said.

He further pointed out the unexpected ferocity of the storm and the inadequacy of harbour facilities. “The piles that they had to protect the boats, the sea lick way. So the boats had no protection at this point in time, which was supposed to be the safe harbour.”

In response to the crisis, fibreglass fabricator Fiberpol and the Rotary Clubs of Barbados have stepped in with a donation valued at $40 000 to help repair boats. Steven Bourne expressed gratitude for this support: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Fiberpol and the Rotary Clubs of Barbados for their invaluable contribution during this challenging time.”

Neil echoed this sentiment, noting the significance of the aid given that most boats were uninsured. “It helps a lot. Because most of the boats, as you heard, were not insured,” he said. “So Fiberpol coming up on board and helping the boat owners is welcomed.”

The disaster has not only affected the immediate fishing season but also highlighted the year-round nature of modern fishing operations. Neil explained that unlike in the past, when boats might be hauled up at the end of a season, today’s fishing industry operates continuously across multiple seasons, including flying fish, snapper, and tuna fishing.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the road to recovery for the fishing industry remains uncertain. The loss of so many vessels — nine out of ten of them uninsured — poses significant challenges for fishermen like Steven, who have spent their lives on the water. “I’m a true fisherman. I was born in Silver Sands, Christ Church,” he said. “I went to school at St. Christopher. And I’ve been on the water since I was about 12 years old. I’m still at it. And that’s all I get in life,” he reflected, encapsulating the deep connection between the island’s people and its maritime heritage.

His account of his previous losses highlighted the historical challenges faced by fisherfolk. “I lost a day boat at that time, in about 1984. It went into the rocks and smashed it. But that was insured at the time,” he recalled. This incident underscores the importance of insurance in mitigating financial risks, a practice that seems to have waned in recent years according to Neil Bourne’s comments about the current lack of insurance coverage.

Neil explained the year-round nature of modern fishing operations: “There’s more than one season ….There’s a flying fish season, then there’s what we just call a hurricane season, where you do snappers. Some boats these days stay and do amber fishing.

“So right now, for the past couple of years, when one season closes, we go into another. Some boats go out to do tuna fishing… the longliners.” This continuous operation makes the industry more vulnerable to sudden disruptions like Hurricane Beryl, as there is rarely an ‘off-season’ when boats can be safely stored on land.

The disaster has also sparked debate about disaster preparedness and the responsibilities of fishermen. Neil Bourne addressed public criticism: “Then you will see. We know the Bajans, everybody want them a pen. They had to get on the radar to see the Bajans. The fishermen should have hauled up the boat. They should have done this.”

He pointed out the practical difficulties in following such advice: “You don’t have the haul-up facility like we had before. Then there are the boats they’re talking about. I hear a lady say her father used to haul the boat when the season was done. They were 22-foot boats. You get 10 men with a piece of rope and pull it up on the beach with skids.”

Beryl’s severity meant that even the most robust precautions might have been insufficient, according to Neil Bourne. “If the boats were tied with chains, they would still break up. The type of weather we experienced that Monday morning. If the boats were tied with chains, they would still break up,” he emphasised.

As the fishing community begins to rebuild, the support from organisations like Fiberpol and the Rotary Clubs of Barbados provides a glimmer of hope. But the scale of the disaster suggests that more comprehensive, long-term solutions may be needed to protect the vital fishing industry from future catastrophes.

The experience of Hurricane Beryl has already prompted a reassessment of coastal defences, harbour facilities, and disaster preparedness strategies. It may also lead to discussions about sustainable fishing practices and the need for better insurance coverage in the industry.

For now, fishermen like Steven Bourne, who embody the island’s rich maritime heritage, face an uncertain future. And the resilience and adaptability that have long characterised Barbadian fishing is being put to the test it has not faced in generations.