Increased NFA Initiatives Producing Measurable Results

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has ramped up efforts towards ensuring greater compliance by sector stakeholders, while heightening the entity’s visibility and accessibility to these interests.

The agency is responsible for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of Jamaica’s fisheries resources, in a manner that ensures optimum social and economic benefits to the island.

Principal Director in the NFA’s Fisheries Compliance, Licensing And Statistics Division, Dr. Zahra Oliphant, says boosting personnel attached to the agency’s enforcement arm has been critical in increasing the compliance rate for licensing fishing vessels and individuals.

“On average, about 25 per cent of persons would come back to get their licence renewed. The Compliance Branch, prior to last April, was essentially two very dedicated persons that were doing a lot of work. Now, with the increasing complement of staff for enforcement through the Compliance Branch, at present we have 26 persons,” she informs.

The Jamaica Fisheries Quarterly Statistics Report for April-June 2023 showed that the period had the highest vessel licence renewal percentage per quarter since the fourth quarter of 2021/22, with 79 per cent.

Statistics from the quarter also reflected a 42 per cent increase in new vessel licences issued, representing the highest out-turn since quarter four of 2021/22.

Dr. Oliphant credits this uptick to the NFA increasing its reach with compliance officers on the ground in most parishes.

“With the team on the ground to help to ensure voluntary compliance, we are educating our fishers on the need to be licensed. Through joint enforcement operations with the security forces – Marine Police and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard – persons are recognising that if they are not licensed, they will run afoul of the law. That encourages persons to get licensed,” she points out.

The NFA operates by conducting proper fisheries management involving research, monitoring of environmental quality, education and training, enforcement, licensing and registration, data collection and community outreach.

The two major branches are Marine Capture and Aquaculture.

Dr. Oliphant, who notes that the NFA “doesn’t rule with a strong arm”, points out that “even before the compliance officers were dispatched and were on the ground, what we started last year is, every month we do two licensing/education sessions”.

“This involves the Licensing and Registration Unit of the NFA going out into the field, based on the needs that are presented by our extension officers,” she says.

The extension services arm operates through the Capture Fisheries Division.

“These extension officers on the ground assist with licensing, organising fisheries into groups, and so on. The extension officer would indicate to us… a particular beach that is a little away from one of our suboffices and may need licensing intervention. We would then pack up half of the team and send them to that beach. We also set up the licensing booth and process applications for that particular area. This is something we do twice per month,” Dr. Oliphant explains.

She says with the Authority’s increased visibility through officers in the field, the NFA gets the opportunity to cater to more fishers.

“We have over 180 fishing beaches in Jamaica. For some of the fishers, although we have some offices around the island, because we have so many fishing beaches for some of the fishers they don’t really find the time to leave their trade to go to the nearest office to get their licence. Going to them is a way to help,” she points out.

For details on the National Fisheries Authority’s work, visit www. moa.gov.jm.