While the Trinidad and Tobago government has contributed to the fishing industry over the past few years, president of the Claxton Bay Fishing Association Kishore Boodram, believes much more needs to be done throughout so as to benefit the entire island
We are longing for development in the fishing sector but we are not seeing it happen. The government did things, but too little. In every fishing area in TT, there are problems like slipways and dilapidated jetties and these little things add up, Boodram told Newsday.
He is also the assistant president of the Trinidad and Tobago United Fisher Folk (TTUFF). Boodram listed several issues which he claimed has been plaguing the Claxton Bay fishing community for years with the end result being a very low catch.
One issue is the global change. For the first time, were seen the largest tide ever more than two feet higher than years gone by. We have to be careful in the fishing industry about what we are doing and how we are doing things. If we do not build up the marine life, problems of food security would only get worse, Boodram charged.
He complained that about 15 to 18 months ago the service station, located a stone’s throw away from the fishing depot, closed down causing fishermen to struggle to get gasoline.
Some fishermen, he noted, complain on a daily basis that workers of service station in other communities are not filling the large fuel containers which they take to sea.
It reached a point now that fishermen have to walk with their fisherman identification cards and yet they may still be denied. A container normally contains about 15 gallons and sometimes a boat carries two containers. On the declining fish stocks, Boodram blamed pollution by certain companies. In recent months we have had a number of oil spills. There is also the issue of seismic surveys, Boodram said. With the start of the Lenten period last week, Boodram noted that in the upcoming days the demand for fish and other sea products would be heightened. He called for consultations with the Energy as well as the Food Production Ministries saying such events are necessary so as to reduce the food import bill in the long run.
We want the authorities to have proper consultation with the grassroots fishermen. We want companies to give back to the community even if it’s one percent of their profit for 20 years. TCL is willing to give us the materials to extend our jetty but we need the support from government bodies for the necessary equipment and transportation, Boodram noted.
Saying that several industries are located in and around Claxton Bay, he suggested that companies can live up to their corporate social responsibilities through sporting activities for children, contributions to religious institutions and improvements in infrastructural developments.
Despite the problems faced by fishermen, Boodram praised the Agricultural Development Bank saying fishermen have easy access to loans. Commenting on the sales thus far for the Lenten period, vendor Safina Lutchman referred to cro cro as a hot seller among customers.
Since mid- November it has been costing customers about $12 per pound and now it has increased by $3. Overall sales have been good.
Daily News Limited