Fisherman saves boat but loses fish pots
Published:Saturday | July 6, 2024 | 12:07 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
MANCHIONEAL, Portland:
Hard-hit by at least five previous hurricanes, including Gilbert, which dealt him tremendous losses, fisherman Kenneth ‘Shorty’ Carr of Manchioneal in Portland was taking no chances with Beryl.
Thirty-six years of fishing experience has taught him to interpret adverse weather conditions, particularly hurricanes, by observing sea changes and developments.
And so on Tuesday, he took the decision to secure his 30-foot fibreglass boat on land to ensure that his livelihood could continue after the hurricane.
“I was not going to suffer any loss, and so I decided to take my fishing [equipment] to a safer place. Along with other fishermen, I took my boat to the playing field at the Manchioneal All-Age School,” Carr told The Gleaner.
“When the storm started Wednesday morning, I knew that it was a monster. Everything just a blow weh so. Zinc, board, old fridge, and other material just a fly. Even my beach house was damaged along wid others. But mi sure ‘bout one ting: mi boat safe, and as long as mi can get it back on di beach, mi gone a sea,” he added.
According to Carr, who has been fishing since age 16, his fishing enterprise is the only income for his family, adding that he knew no other way to earn money than to fish.
“Look here, mi pass through Gilbert, Ivan, Dean, and Emily and get likkle brush from Sandy, so mi couldn’t left miself to chance. It better to be prepared than to be sorry. Well, right now mi happy even though mi haffi fix up back mi beach house,” he added.
But while Carr is happy that his boat has been spared the worst, he estimates that he may have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars as his fish pots, which were left at sea, would not be found.