The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has disclosed some of the transitioning now taking place at the relatively new government body.

Chairman of the NFA Board, (ret) Lieutenant Commander George Overton, disclosed that the entity is in the process of moving from a division with about two departments within the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to a nine-department operation.

He mentioned that various administrative and governance capacities will be built out simultaneously with the technical, operational and enforcement capabilities of the authority.

Research, Overton emphasised, will be central to the work of the NFA, as the entity transforms to better serve the needs of the fisheries sector highlighting that the focus on and use of research is in alignment with the wider thrust of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to use data to guide agricultural development.

Technical data to drive decision making

According to the NFA board chairman, “We are looking at the ability to make decisions from technical data that is available from what the performance of the industry has been in the recent past. [We are] also ensuring that the surveys that are required are being executed in a timely manner for analysis so that we can make the best possible informed decisions for the industry.” he noted.

Speaking in a recent interview with JIS News, Overton underscored the importance of data collection and data protection saying, “We also have to ensure that as we collect this data it is protected as the intellectual property of the NFA. It is a lot of work that is going on as we plan the way forward for the industry and how it’s going to be managed and developed. We are focused on the economic and environmental sustainability of the industry – both the capture fishery and the aquaculture sector.”

Lieutenant Commander Overton reiterated that the NFA is committed to ensuring that the fisheries industry is run efficiently, profitably and sustainably, and that the development that takes place meets the economic plans for the country.

The NFA is responsible for the sustainable management of the fisheries sector in a manner that brings social and economic benefits to Jamaica.

As part of its operations, the entity focuses on research, monitoring of environmental quality, education and training, enforcement, licensing and registration, data collection and community outreach.