Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw (left), and Executive Director, Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke, at the Sandals Resort International/ The Nature Conservancy Sustainable Fisheries Forum, held in Ocho Rios on Thursday, April 19, 2018. The aim of the forum is to facilitate discussions about the threats facing the island’s parrotfish population, the implications of these threats and possible solutions.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Audley Shaw, is urging fisherfolk to increase the size of their nets in an effort to protect the smaller fish, which is important to sustainability in the management of Jamaica’s marine resources.
Minister Shaw was speaking at a Sustainable Fisheries Forum focusing on parrotfish management hosted by Sandals Resorts International in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, held in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on April 19.
While stating that Government was not considering a ban on parrotfish at this time, Minister Shaw noted the importance of parrotfish to the protection of our reefs, and encouraged the fishers to support all conservation efforts, including not fishing in the special conservation areas.
Minister Shaw acknowledged the economic importance of the fisheries industry and its capacity for creating wealth and employment and underscored Government’s commitment to ensuring a modern, effectively managed and sustainable industry
“With a global worth of over US$136 billion, we recognise that we are barely scratching the surface with our total production valued at less than US$100 million,” said Minister Shaw.
The Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister expressed appreciation to the local and international partners for their collaboration on what he described as a very important matter.
He assured the stakeholders of Government’s commitment to facilitate sustainable growth of the fisheries industry and said it would be done in a context that ensures environmental conservation while assuring the livelihood of Jamaica’s fisherfolk islandwide.
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