New Legislation Being Developed to Govern Fisheries Sector

New legislation is being drafted to govern management of the fisheries sector and fines have been significantly increased to deter illegal activities in the sector, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Victor Cummings has informed.
“The draft fisheries policy provides a framework that addresses issues such as managing fishing capacity, restoring depleted fish stocks and the elimination of destructive fishing practices,” he told the House of Representatives on July 26 during his Sectoral Debate presentation.
The specific issues to be addressed in the policy include: managing all capture fisheries; monitoring, control and surveillance and safety at sea; aquaculture; social and economic development of the sector; hygienic standards; processing, marketing and international trade of fish and fish products; and institutional capacities in the fisheries and marine sector, including data collection, research and education.
He pointed out that for financial year 2006/07, a programme would be implemented to verify the authenticity and use of existing fishing vessels.”Vessels will be re-registered and will be required to display vessel marking systems of international standard. Vessel marks will have properly displayed registration numbers and licence stickers that are colour coded by year, just as is done with motor vehicles,” the State Minister added.
Furthermore, he told the House that the Fisheries Division would be taking an ecosystem approach, and has begun discussions with the University of the West Indies to undertake a project to develop new tools.
This approach, he said, would enable the Division to conduct preliminary assessment of the state of aquatic habitats. He also informed the House that the Ministry would seek to restore habitats, especially after violent storms.
Mr. Cummings said that Hurricane Ivan had done extensive damage to the coastline, along with destruction of habitats, which were crucial to the viability of the fisheries sector, and that the Fisheries Division has secured a grant of Cdn$800,000 to carry out clean-up and restoration work.
Commenting on the Division’s Lobster Casita Project, Mr. Cummings said the Ministry and the Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Ministry were in dialogue with the Mexican and Cuban governments for the provision of expert assistance.
The aim of the project is to monitor and forecast lobster production and to eventually introduce artificial shelters for the enhancement of the lobster population.