Green Tells Fishers to Ramp Up Output as NFA Funds Aquaculture and Offshore Cage Snapper

Jamaica's fishing industry has absorbed climate-related blows before, but Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green told stakeholders that Hurricane Melissa may stand as one of the harshest yet. Addressing the fisheries segment of the sector, he set out the Government's plan to restore operations and build lasting resilience against future shocks.

Green said damage to more than 3,000 fishing boats across the country left a uniquely heavy toll and exposed how thinly protected the island's fishing communities remain when extreme weather hits. His presentation grouped priorities into three strands: technology fishers can use, training and capacity-building programmes, and the Ministry's wider growth agenda for the trade.

During his post-sectoral briefing, the Minister said, "The next hurricane season isn't something to be feared but to be prepared for", as he disclosed that the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has committed up to roughly $200 million for the remainder of this year to expand markets and production among tilapia, freshwater prawn, sea moss and oyster farmers.

"Probably our most exciting project is our Cage Project. We consume significant amounts of sea food, unfortunately a lot of that is important. So we have to fix that. We are now growing snapper in the sea in cages. We just did a pilot of something happening all over the world but we are the first in the English-speaking Caribbean to get it done."

Green reported that the initiative is performing well and will move toward commercial rollout, and he opened the door to interested investors. While reaffirming additional support for fishers, he also called on them to push farther offshore to make better use of available seafood, seek training in the profession, and plan carefully to steward their resources.