Gov’t Advancing Plans for Development of Aquaculture Agro-Park and Regional Centre of Excellence

The Government is advancing plans to establish a 300‑acre aquaculture agro‑park at Amity Hall, St. Catherine, alongside the development of a Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Mitchell Town, Clarendon.

These developments form part of the strategic measures being pursued to address challenges constraining the local tilapia industry and strengthen Jamaica’s aquaculture sector.

State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Franklin Witter, made the announcement while addressing the National Tilapia Farmers’ Consultation, hosted by the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) on Thursday (January 22) at the Caymanas Golf and Polo Resort in St. Catherine.

Among the challenges confronting tilapia farmers are limited access to quality and affordable fish feed, the need for reliable feedstock, insufficient quantity and quality of water, restricted land access, inadequate diagnostic support, gaps in aquatic animal health training, and the growing impacts of climate change.

Mr. Witter noted that while the Ministry acknowledges the challenges affecting the sector, the Government is actively pursuing a range of opportunities to help ease these constraints and strengthen the industry.

Consequently, he explained that the aquaculture agro-park is expected to serve as a modern, fully serviced hub, incorporating production units, nurseries, and processing plants, and supported by the National Irrigation Commission (NIC) to guarantee the consistent water supply that is critical to the industry’s success.

Mr. Witter emphasised that the agro-park is designed to transition the tilapia sector from small-scale operations to integrated commercial growth, positioning aquaculture as a driver of national food security and economic development.

Meanwhile, the State Minister said that, in keeping with the Government’s long-term strategies to strengthen the sector, the NFA has submitted a proposal to establish the Caribbean’s first Aquaculture Centre of Excellence on a 200‑acre property in Mitchell Town, Clarendon.

He advised that the project is currently before the Public Investment and Appraisal Branch (PIAB) in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, noting that it “represents our ambition to [position] Jamaica [as] a regional leader in innovation, training, and advanced aquaculture practices”.

Addressing the issue of affordable fish feed, which Mr. Witter noted typically represents about 60 per cent of farmers’ operational costs, the NFA is advancing a feasibility study for the establishment of a local feed mill, funded through a grant from the World Bank.

“It aims to reduce farmers’ feed costs by reducing dependence on imported feed. It seeks to improve the availability and quality of the feed, ensuring a consistent supply for both small and large producers,” the State Minister explained.

He added that the establishment of a local feed mill would also open new markets for farmers and processors of local crops and by-products, which can be converted into feed ingredients, such as cassava, corn, soy, coconut, and other agro‑processing residues.

“It is about keeping more value in Jamaica and building a resilient supply chain. Ultimately, this type of investment is designed to transition the sector from small-scale survival to commercial growth, and the NFA will continue to engage you, our stakeholders, as the feasibility study progresses,” the State Minister affirmed.

Meanwhile, Mr. Witter announced that the state‑of‑the‑art, bio‑secure tilapia hatchery at Twickenham Park in St. Catherine is now in its final stage of construction.

Once operational, the facility is expected to produce up to five million fry annually, significantly easing the challenge of supplying advanced fry and fingerlings to farmers.

Thursday’s Consultation is also expected to inform the development of a comprehensive management plan aimed at harnessing the full potential of the local tilapia industry.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NFA, Dr. Gavin Bellamy, acknowledged that although numerous limitations have constrained the growth of the tilapia sector, there remain significant opportunities that can be harnessed to drive its expansion.

He argued, however, that for years, stakeholders sought to address the challenges in isolation, when what was truly needed was a collective and coordinated approach.

“I think [today’s consultation] will be the turning point where the individual actors become unified, sharing our best practices, unifying behind Brand Jamaica and Jamaica tilapia, doing everything to get this industry where we all know it should be – a strong brand, both locally and internationally,” Dr. Bellamy stated.