Sanctuary brings new hope for fishermen

André Gordon, Gleaner Writer

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth:When Walter James became a fisherman 30 years ago, the occupation was a lucrative one in the sleepy seaside town of Black River.

"Back then, we used to catch 80 to 100 pounds per day. In fact, we never had to go far," said James. "The fishing change a lot man, it look like less and less fish out there these days."

The Western Focus team caught up with James last Friday after he returned from his latest expedition. For fishermen like him, the devastating effects of overfishing in waters along the south coast of St Elizabeth are manifesting themselves.

"Nowadays, we only catching 20 to 30 pounds per day and that is far from enough," he said.

James who owns a 30-foot fishing boat welcomes the idea of a fishing sanctuary for the Malcolm Bay and Galleon Beach areas in the parish. He hopes its establishment will lead to a restock of the fish population.

Dennis Abrahams, warden super-visor for the fishing sanctuary, said that personnel are currently being trained to monitor the sanctuary.

"Wardens were drawn from existing fishermen, they will also be trained as district constables and, therefore, have the powers of arrest," he said.

The fishing sanctuary project is being spearheaded by the BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

lamenting future

As the fishermen customarily shelter under the shade of a tree at the back of the Black River fish market, they continue to lament their future as the south coast's once-rich fishing stock continues to dwindle.

However, Abrahams is optimistic that the establishment of the sanctuary would bring new opportunities.

"Sports fishing, snorkelling and diving are just a few of the options available to fishermen who might be forced out of conventional fishing," he concluded.