STATEMENT FOR THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BY THE DEPUTY PREMIER AND MINISTER FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND LABOUR, DR. THE HON. KEDRICK D. PICKERING ON THE FISHING INDUSTRY OCTOBER 14, 2013
Madam Speaker, the overall development of the Virgin Islands and its ability to provide employment for its residents rest in our ability as a government to ensure that our current economic bases of tourism and financial services not only remain viable and to assiduously look for other areas of growth. The fishing industry holds great promise as a viable third economic pillar; however, this must be done in the most sustainable manner possible. Fishing has always been a part of our social and cultural heritage and every effort will be made to ensure that that continues. However, Madam Speaker, in order to build a sustainable fishing industry it would require us to implement measures that will conserve fish stocks coupled with the preservation of the marine environment while at the same time allowing the industry to remain economically viable.
Madam Speaker, The fishing industry in the Virgin Islands is one of great potential and we have been moving progressively in that direction. In addition to the freezer space which existed a few months ago, we have purchased and installed another freezer measuring 20feet by 16feet.
The recently increased carrying capacity was
complemented by two (2) vacuum seal machines and two (2) medium size blast freezers. The general idea is to equip the Fishing Complex with all the necessities to adequately process, store and keep fresh for extended periods of time with an increase volume of fish. Madam Speaker, we are very much appreciative of the assistance provided to the ministry by local fisherman Mr. Kevin Gray. Over the past months he has been very attentive to the needs of the Fishing Complex and especially what he thinks is needed
to grow and develop the fishing industry. On the marketing front, contacts have been made with key establishments to ensure that the distribution of the product is maximized. To ensure that this happens, we have identified someone in the ministry who will follow through and make this a reality. Madam Speaker, plans are afoot by a group of local fishermen to organize themselves into an association that will be called the Blue Water Fishing Association. Madam Speaker, also noteworthy that the Virgin Gorda Fishing Cooperative which has been in existence for over ten (10) years has been continuing to work. This group has been running a summer program for just as many years which has grown steadily year after year. As a matter of fact, they had over one hundred (100) students taking part in their programme this year. This, Madam Speaker, is the future of the fishing industry. Madam Speaker, I would now like to turn my attention to an issue that has presented itself and one that we are feverishly working to rectify. The subject of trap fishing, which is commonly known locally as pot fishing, has been used for decades in the fishing industry. Pot fishing is used to target and harvest lobster and reef fish using what can essentially be described as an underwater cage. Pot fishing which consists of “Gootoo, grunt, porgy, old wife, doctor, buttersocks, angelfish, hind, whipper, margate and grouper” are a few of the fish commonly termed “pot-fish” because of their propensity to be caught in fish pots. Fish pots are usually placed on the edge of reefs and attached to a rope and buoy to allow fishermen to locate and retrieve their pots. The law requires that fish pots are set singly, but fishermen commonly set their fish pots on strings, where each trap is tied to the next in line, with buoys on either end. Typically a string would consist of anywhere from three to fifteen fish pots. Traditionally, Madam Speaker, fish pots were made completely of biodegradable material – locally called “wiss” which, if left underwater would breakdown over a very short period of time and eventually disappear. Over time, this type of material was replaced by wire mesh, supported on by the corners by wood from local birch-berry trees.
The wood of the birch-berry tree, although stronger than “wiss”, would also
eventually break down if the pot was left under water, and the fish pot would eventually collapse. Fish pots are rarely made in this way today. Pots are now often completely made of plastic coated wire and supported by a rebar frame.
Madam Speaker, the need for the use of biodegradable panels is rooted in the very nature of the fish pot and what makes it such a successful method for catching fish. Due to a fish pot’s design, fish easily find their way in, but have much difficulty in finding their way out. Biodegradable panels are required as a failsafe to ensure that if a fish pot is lost an escape panel would eventually open and any trapped fish would be allowed to escape. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, even though it is illegal to use a fish pot without a biodegradable panel, some fishermen fall through the cracks and construct and use pots contrary to the law. The effect of lost fish pots (commonly called ghost traps) or pots that are set on or in too close of a proximity to a reef can be quite damaging. Madam Speaker, the lost pots compound the unsightly problem of marine debris on the ocean floor. In addition to diminished aesthetics, depending on the material used to construct the pot, over time heavy metals can leach into the marine waters and reduce the overall water quality of an area.
Additionally, pots that lack the required
biodegradable panel can continue to trap and kill fish for years on end, ultimately resulting in overfishing.
Parrotfish, locally called “gootoo” are one of the most
vulnerable species, and yet some of the most vital to maintaining the health of our coral reefs.
In a Parrotfish Study published by the Royal Society in 2011, Australian
scientists reported that “parrotfish fulfill a number of key roles on the reef. They remove sick and dead corals and clean areas for new corals to settle, they remove weedy growth, and they cart away literally tonnes of sand and sediment that would otherwise smother coral”.
This study termed parrot fish as the “constant gardeners of the reef”
as they tend and renew coral reefs, helping them to regrow after a setback.
Madam Speaker, if fish pots, especially those set on a string, can cause physical damage to the reef as a result of inappropriate placement and wave action, particularly during severe weather events.
Damaging the reef itself counters the existence of a
productive fish industry, as reefs provide shelter and food for many commercial species of fish.
Damaged reefs are also more susceptible to disease and are unable to
adequately protect our coastlines; one of the many services that coral reefs provide. Madam Speaker, addressing the issue of lost fish pots is necessary if we are to increase the resilience of our reefs, develop a healthy and sustainable fishing industry
and maintain the overall integrity of our marine tourism product.
Our reefs are
bombarded with pressures from a variety of sources ranging from pollution, anchor damage and sedimentation, to the ever present threat of warming sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification as a result of the human induced phenomenon known as Climate Change. Madam Speaker, we intend to tackle this issue of the ghost traps using a three pronged approach: firstly, with the aid of local fishermen and supported by side scan sonar, ghost fish pots will be located and removed. We are proposing to begin this project in the region north of Virgin Gorda and to the south west of Anegada in the area surrounding Herman’s Reef, Roberts Reef and Hawks Bill Bank. Secondly, Madam Speaker, physical removal of the ghost fish pots will coincide with a targeted awareness program for pot fishermen regarding the standards to be met with respect to pot fishing, and also to sensitize boaters and divers on identifying fish pots that are being fished and identifying and reporting derelict fish pots. Thirdly, Madam Speaker, enforcement of the standards as outlined in the Virgin Islands Fisheries Act and Regulations will be intensified.
Fish pots will be inspected to ensure that biodegradable panels are
installed, and measures to ensure that pots are singly set and individually marked will be put in place. Madam Speaker, the sustainable development of this industry will require much effort on our part as we take on the task of dialoguing with our fishermen who may have opted to use tactics that are harmful to the environment and therefore the industry. During the first quarter of 2014 we will hold the Second Annual Fishermen’s Conference at which time we will share with the fishermen the need to have protected areas, closed seasons, as well as the need to stop unsustainable fishing practices. Madam Speaker, this is a bourgeoning industry with much potential and I am calling on the fishermen of this Territory for us to work together and get on board.