Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey (far right) and Chief Fisheries Officer, Stephen Willoughby, looking at some of the derelict boats on the beach at Weston.
Foreign imports flooding fish market
Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey is concerned about the large quantity of fish being imported into Barbados, noting that in excess of 80 per cent of the fish consumed locally is actually brought in.
In an interview with the media following a tour of the Millie Ifill Fish Market at Weston, St. James, Humphrey said that fact is “almost embarrassing” for the island, and the goal must be to make Barbados the model fishing industry in the region. However, he hinted, that cannot be done if such a large amount of fish is being imported into the country. His comments came as he also lamented that the fish stocks in the waters off the island are on the decline.
“We have to find a way to protect the fish stock in Barbadian waters and there has been a lot of over-fishing in Barbados. There has been fishing in areas where we shouldn’t fish. We have fished out the fish and left lion fish and lion fish as you know is a predatory fish; it is killing all the other fish,” he said.
The Minister added, “Some people have thrown down their fish pots and left the fish pots in the water, which kills a number of fish. So, I think there are some things we have to change, some habits Barbadian fishermen also have to change as we try to go forward in a new fishing industry.”
His comments came as he referred to the Government’s intention to have more marine-protected areas. He said this would add to the area that is already so designated at Folkestone, and the goal would be to make Carlisle Bay a marine-protected area as well. He said the idea is to not only allow replenish, but the reefs as well.
Minister Humphrey was also questioned as to whether Barbadian fisherman were still having problems with Trinidad. He said the matter has been “dealt with to a point” as he indicated that the Barbados Government has been in contact with the Government of Trinidad on the issue.
“We have a view as a government. I think the Labour Party’s constitution is still the only one in the region that speaks to regionalism. We are not going to stand from Barbados and yell at anybody in Trinidad, but we are going to work with our partners in the region to come to some collective understanding that works for both parties,” the maritime minister stated. (JRT)