As part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Sector Project, which aims to reduce fish imports, 40 fishermen from Discovery Bay Fisherman’s Beach in St Ann have received certification.

Twenty received certificates in horizontal long-line fishing, while the other 20 have been certified in the use of fish aggregating devices (FADS).

Portfolio minister Floyd Green announced the fisheries programme, which includes training fishers to address declining stocks and retool them for larger, more in-demand fish.

“What they (fishers) are doing is going farther offshore to catch larger fish species. What we are trying to catch is what is in high demand, especially in our hotel sector. It’s not that we don’t have it, it’s that we haven’t trained our fishers in the technology to go out and get it,” Green noted.

Green pointed out that fishers are being trained to catch fish such as marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahimahi, kingfish and swordfish, which are among the fishes that are in high demand.

He also mentioned the importance of the sector to the island. He stated: “Fisheries continues to play a critical economic, social and cultural role for us as Jamaicans. So many communities depend on the fisheries sector for survival. So many families are directly impacted by the work of our fishers, but as we know our fisheries sector has faced its fair share of challenges.”

Highest consumers of fish per capita

The minister said the island stands among the highest consumers of fish per capita in the world; however, most of the fish consumed are imported.

“In fact, we are way past most of the region, but the reality is that 68 per cent of the fish that we consume is imported, and we have to put a stop to that, and the only way we can put a stop to that by ensuring that our fishers are able to go farther out and to treat with the realities of climate change,” Green added.

The fisheries minister thanked the World Bank for funding the project. Among the numerous sub-projects launched through the initiative are oyster production, alternative fish feed production, sea/Irish moss production and the launch of a tilapia hatchery.

The fisheries ministry provided pelagic fishing gear to vulnerable Jamaican communities, aiming to help them adopt climate-resilient practices and strengthen the sector through sub-projects.

It is carried out by the ministry using funding provided by the World Bank in the amount of US$4.8 million. The 40 are the first group of approximately 280 fishers from seven different fishing communities on the island to receive certification under the programme.