THE RECENT certification of Jamaica to export fishery products to the European Union (EU) has opened the way for a vast expansion in the local fishing industry, according to Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke.
Citing a need for value-added as well as fresh products targeted to niche markets, Mr. Clarke said "the situation begs for new players to satisfy the many opportunities involved".
Jamaica is the only Caribbean country, and the only non-primary fishing nation, to make the EU's list of approved third country exporters of fishery products.
The EU certification includes conch but the local conch industry has been at a standstill for two years because of a lawsuit filed by Frank Cox of DYC fishing that prevents the Agriculture Ministry from issuing quotas to fish for conch. The lawsuit was filed over alleged concerns about transparency in the issuing of quotas by the Minister.
While contesting the lawsuit, the Ministry has responded with proposed legislation to create a Conch Quota Authority, but it is unlikely the proposed bill can be passed before year-end. This year's official conch season would normally have started in November and hundreds of persons dependent on the industry have already experienced dislocation for more than two years.
Mr. Clarke was speaking yesterday at a press conference at the Hilton New Kingston Hotel, where several key players in the agriculture sector received hazard analysis certification.
The training programme involved staff of the Veterinary Services Division, the Ministry of Health, plus the fishery and aquaculture industries. The programme was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and administered by the Caribbean Regional Human Resources Development Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC).
The training, conducted by local and Canadian consultants, provided Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification for the participants. HACCP certification within the fisheries industry is one of the several requirements for meeting EU standards for listing as an accredited exporter.
