Mark Titus, Enterprise Reporter

Donovan Stanberry, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture. - Photos by Mark Titus

More stringent regulations will be included in the National Fisheries policy, as part of the Agriculture Ministry's anti-eradication efforts.

"The new legislation is necessary because there are many things to regulate in the industry to ensure that all the resources in the sea are exploited in a sustainable and equitable way," said Donovan Stanberry, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Sustainable because we don't want to over exploit today and tomorrow there is nothing; and equitable as between small fishermen and larger players.

"We have to have defined seasons when we can reap and then we stop reaping and allow the resources to replenish," added the permanent secretary.

Mr Stanberry was speaking at the public consultation on the draft of the national fisheries policy in Port Maria, St Mary, on Wednesday.

Four consultations

This was the third of four consultations planned by the ministry to encourage participation of stakeholders and interest groups in the decision-making process. Two similar exercises were conducted in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, and in Montego Bay, St James.

The policy is expected to be the divisions road map, outlining its vision and objectives, and is aimed at achieving growth and sustainability in the ailing local fishing sector.

The industry in the island employs about 25,000 fisherfolk in approximately 187 fishing villages across Jamaica.