Courtesy Of The Agriculture Ministry. - Contributed THIS WEEK Farmers Weekly presents the final in the series of Sector Review: A report on the performance of sectors within the Agriculture Ministry.
LOCAL FISHERMEN caught an estimated 7.3 million kilograms of fish in 2003 100,000 kilograms more than the catch for 2002 and 1 million more than that of 2001, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica.
But while these figures are encouraging, Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, says "catches of choice fish, as well as the average size of the island's fishing stock, are declining."
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations also point to an overall decline in Jamaica's marine resources as a result of coastal pollution and unsustainable fishing practices.
Against this background, the Agriculture Ministry has entered into partnerships with the FAO, the government of Japan and the Petroleum Company of Jamaica to promote the viability of the island's fishing industry.
Under the partnership which involves consultation with stakeholders of the fishing industry, primarily fishermen from the 186 fishing beaches islandwide, a national policy framework for the sector is being developed.
Meanwhile, under a Regional Technical Co-operation Project, the Japanese government has made training in modern fishing techniques available to small-scale fishers, using state-of-the-art equipment it had donated to the Ministry last July.
Last week, the Ministry re-opened its Montego Bay and Black River Fisheries' substations which were upgraded under a contractual agreement with the Petroleum Company of Jamaica (PETCOM).
This agreement provides for the supply of outboard motor fuel to fishermen at 'economic' rates, the upgrading of the physical infrastructure at the sub-stations, including the installation of modern above-ground tanks, fuel pumps and the training of front-line staff in improved safety and customer service techniques.
