Training for Fish Farmers Begins in September at Heart Academy, Ebony Park, Clarendon

Fish farmers are set to receive training at the Clarendon-based HEART/NSTA Trust Ebony Park Academy, beginning in September.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, made the disclosure at a post Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House on April 24.

Mr. Green noted that the Ministry is placing a lot more emphasis on the fisheries sector, as part of its food security drive.

“We have to drive the production of fish, especially tilapia, so we have renovated three ponds at the Ebony Park HEART facility, and we expect to start training in September for those fish farmers who are interested in the area,” he said.

“What we have found is that a lot of people have gotten involved in fish farming, but they don’t have the necessary formal training. So, we want to have better outcomes, that they’re taking a scientific approach to fish farming, so we’re going to work with HEART in that regard,” the Minister added.

Furthermore, Mr. Green said the Ministry has a programme in place where persons interested in fish farming and have a pond of up to one acre, will be provided with fish free of cost.

“So, we’re really looking to drive our tilapia fish production as a means of food security. We do expect, in another few weeks, to unveil our newly renovated ponds and we will use that to drive aquaculture,” he noted.