'92 a good year for fishing
Date: Tue 06-Jul-1993
Paper Page: 18
Publication: Daily Nation
The sea yielded more fish for Barbados in 1992 than it did in the previous
year.
David Bowen Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries revealed that
figures
on fish catches indicated that 3 283.3 tonnes of fish were landed in 1992;
21.7 per cent more that the 2 697.6 tonnes landed in the previous year.
Bowen, who was speaking at the recent dinner and awards presentation for
Fisherman's Day, noted also that in 1992 flying fish and dolphin accounted
for
88.2 per cent of the total landings, while billfish and tuna accounted for
6.7
per cent.
He noted also that according to the 1992 Economic Report, the industry's
fish
contribution to the gross domestic product increased from $24.3 million in
1991 to $34.9 in 1992.
In his address, the minister pointed out some of the concerns of his
Government in relation to the inappropriate fishing practices of some
fishermen which were harmful to the environment.
"Measures must be introduced to prevent reef blasting, pollution from
land-based sources, mechanical damage to reefs by boat anchors, harvesting
of
coral for souvenirs, taking of immature fish, ghost fishing by lost fish
traps, over-fishing of resources and illegal harvesting of our resources by
foreign fishing vessels and the use of destructive fishing gear," he
said.
He pointed out that Government and fishermen had to work together to develop
policies and implement and enforce management measures that would ensure
benefits to fishermen both now and the future.
Bowen said that provisions for all these measures and the framework through
which they would be implemented were provided for in the Fisheries Act now
before Parliament.
The legislation, he said, included such mechanisms to prohibit the use of
ecologically dangerous fishing methods such as explosives and poisons, (and)
set up management plans for each kind of fishery.
It also served to establish a Fisheries Advisory Committee comprising
representatives of fisherman and other sections of the fishing industry and
representatives from Government departments, institutions and organisations
knowledgeable in fisheries.
It would also control fisheries related research and survey activities, and
ensure regional co-operation in fisheries.
Bowen drew reference to the Community Fisherman's Day Committees which he
said
had the potential in these difficult economic times to pool their scarce
financial resources to provide goods and services at reduced costs to the
individual fishers.
He added that his Goverment would continue to promote fisheries'
co-operatives
and work closely with those fishing communities that were interested in
developing such organisations.