The Government is continuing to work assiduously to provide opportunities for the development of the nation’s fishing industry.
This statement was made by Chairman of the Fisherman’s Day Committee, Davyeon Muckette during Monday’s Fisherman’s Day activities at the Calliaqua Playing field.
Muckette said over the past year, the Government provided extensive training opportunities for fisher folk to improve their production, while ensuring safety at Sea and two hundred and seventy-three of his colleagues benefitted from these courses.
"Seafood handling and processing, where fifty-six (56) persons were trained; Boat Master Three, where fifty-four (54) fishers were trained. So, from the northern point of Saint Vincent to the southern point of Union Island, a total of two hundred and seventy-three (273) persons took advantage and gained knowledge from this training. These training were very beneficial to us fisherfolks to better understand our roles as fishers. It provided the guidance needed to safely navigate our coastal waters while fishing responsibly at sea."
Muckette said the Government is continuing to implement measures to ensure that local fisher folk can catch more fish. This, with the installation of even more Fish Aggregating Devices also known as FADS in the territorial waters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He also appealed to fisher folk across the country to continue the great job they are doing to ensure national food security.
"In the production section, the sudden need for six sub-surface fish aggregating devices in our coastal waters will boost the production capacity of fish being caught and landed. The retrofitting of twenty-three (23) fishing vessels with retractable canopies will provide the shelter needed while fishing at sea. This will ensure food security and improve livelihoods by increasing our market shares, and creating more jobs and income opportunities within the fisheries sector. I would like to thank the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the World Bank for the timely financial intervention that will certainly ensure food security here in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines."
SOURCE: National Broadcasting corporation