Fishermen in St Mary, Jamaica, are finding it difficult to make their usual frequent trips to sea given the soaring gas prices coupled with the harsh economic times.
As the number of fishermen at the Pagee Fisherman’s Beach increases with more young people turning to fishing, the number of trips to sea has decreased significantly.
Carl Oldfield, a monitor for the Food For the Poor Fishing Village at the Pagee Beach and a Justice of the Peace for St Mary, told the Jamaica Observer North East that the high gas prices make it very strenuous for fishermen to profit from their livelihood as they once did.
“We normally go out every day once the weather is good. Right now we can only go two times per week,” Oldfield said.
A fisherman for more than 50 years, Oldfield said his colleagues are often left in debt due to the high cost of travelling to sea.
“It’s not like a taxi man who full up his tank and then park and wait on a load. We have to move around,” he explained, adding that the problem can be further compounded if fishermen do not rake in a good catch.
“Up to April 22 one litre of gas was $120.66,” Oldfield argued.
He believes that if fishermen could get the gas at a cheaper price, through subsidy, it would be a significant step for them.
The fisherman further explained that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries offers a subsidy which is not much, as the entity through which the subsidy was usually offered is now privatised.
The high price of gas as well as the high cost of maintaining their vessels can be very frustrating for the fishermen.
“If I weren’t born in this thing (fishing) and doing it for over 50 years, I wouldn’t encourage anyone to do it,” Oldfield said.
He explained that for many of the young men in the Port Maria area, fishing is the only way to make a living as there are no major industries.
“For many to get other jobs, they have to migrate out of the area,” he explained.
Many fishermen are said to be still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Sandy, as well as previous storms which destroyed a large percentage of fishing equipment.
He pointed out that persons were still in the rebuilding process and this was evident when the Observer North East visited the beach as fishermen were seen making fish pots.
Fishermen reportedly lost thousands of dollars and, according to Oldfield, 90 per cent of fish pots were destroyed during Sandy. For some, it means starting over.
Oldfield said recently the fishermen received life jackets, flares and rolls of wire from the agriculture ministry, however, they still need more assistance.
While the fishermen face difficulties, Oldfield said the Pagee Fishing village is an active one, where people are still able to purchase the blue marlin, dolphin, the bonita, tuna, yellow, king and many other kinds of fish.
As a Food For the Poor representative, Oldfield said six of the boats used by fishermen at the beach were donated by the charity organisation.
Meanwhile, Oldfield said the fishermen welcome development in the area and would be happy if tourism receives a boost in the parish.
“We welcome development, but development around the fishermen,” he said, adding that he did not want persons to come in and develop the area and then discard the fishermen, as was done elsewhere.
“This is something I have seen happen in other areas,” he said.
Development of tourism in the parish, Oldfield said, could increase revenue not only for the fishermen but provide opportunity for other citizens also.
“People pass here going to Port Antonio and going to Ocho Rios, but no stop for St Mary,” he said.
“I don’t see any development where tourism is concerned for St Mary,” he added.
However, with a new Custos who has had experience in the tourism industry, Oldfield said he is expecting all this to change.
Noting that Custos Jeffrey McKitty is also involved with the development of eco-tourism in the parish, Oldfield said he is sure he will be an asset in the development of that sector.
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