Barbadians urged to join fisherfolk in paying attention to BMS advisories

With Easter weekend just one week away, fishermen across Barbados are preparing for the traditional seasonal catch that many Bajans look forward to each year.

However, amidst the anticipation, concerns remain about two fishermen who have gone missing at sea, as others head out with caution in the face of hazardous marine conditions that typically intensify at this time of year.

Senior meteorologist at the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS), Semelka Jackman said fisherfolk are among the most consistent users of weather advisories issued by the BMS, as they rely heavily on timely information before going out to sea.

“Fishermen are actually among the highest users of the information coming out of the Met Office. They listen to the weather news on CBC before going out the next day, some of them have our app to get notifications, and they listen to radio stations because they acknowledge that they are in a vast open space that can be very dangerous, so they want to be aware of potential marine conditions. 

“We were actually pretty surprised at the level of fishermen who were in tune with the information.”

The finding comes as the BMS and marine stakeholders continue to engage in dialogue aimed at improving how weather information is communicated and used.

Jackman said the work is intended to ensure that forecasts are not only received, but clearly understood and acted upon.

She noted that marine advisories have increased recently due to seasonal weather patterns, including mid-latitude cyclones which bring strong swells to the island.

“These are basically the storms you get in the winter in the US, and they normally bring northerly swells to the island.

“When we get those northerly swells, coastlines that tend to be more protected, like the west coast, can experience choppy conditions. Additionally, around Easter time, wind speeds are generally high, and those strong winds also affect sea conditions. So you could get large swells associated with those winds, and strong winds themselves can be hazardous to marine users.”

Despite the availability of forecasts and advisories, Jackman said the BMS continues to observe a pattern of people seeking information only after conditions have already deteriorated.

“We find that a lot of persons tend to tune in to the Met Office when something is already happening, as opposed to before so they can get a heads up.

“We see that spike in social media activity and phone calls – both from individuals and organisations – when something is already happening. So when the rain is already falling, persons tend to look for information.”

She urged the public to make greater use of forecasts in advance, rather than reacting once conditions worsen.

“We provide a five-day forecast so you can prepare ahead of time to help mitigate impacts. For example, if you’re aware that we could have excessive rainfall tomorrow, you might start putting a plan in place for picking up your children from school so they are not caught in floodwaters. 

“Those kinds of things are really critical. Persons should pay attention ahead of time and maybe take the lead from what the marine sector is doing; using the news and weather forecast to help drive activities for the next day.”

louriannegraham@barbadostoday.bb