The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Fisheries and Cooperatives has embarked on an initiative seeking to revise and update Grenada’s Safety at Sea Regulations.
A validation workshop in this regard was held recently in a collaborative effort between the Fisheries Division and the Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) of St. George’s University, with funding support for the project provided by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The proposed update to the regulations aims at addressing what’s said to be the evolving nature of the fishing industry, and at the same time, promoting safer fishing practices.
REPORT:
Among other things, improving search and rescue
Operations did fit squarely into the picture.
Fisheries Officer, Justin Rennie, noted that “The existing legislation, dating back over 30 years, no longer adequately reflects the current state of the fishing industry, making the need for the regulatory updates more urgent.”
Safety and Sea Specialist at WINDREF, Roland Baldeo, working closely with the Division of Fisheries, emphasized that new regulations are vital in accommodating the various types of vessels now present in Grenada’s fishing sector.
According to him, “We are into the satellite age, and there are devices that can track a boat. If you are in distress, a land-based station can know where you are in real time and having new regulations in place is critical for industry now, especially with the number of boats, the size of the boats, and the distance operators are out fishing.”
Fisheries Officer, Lisa Chetram, is of the view that by placing greater emphasis on adherence to rules and guidelines, fishers will be better equipped to ensure their safety, which ultimately benefits the entire fishing industry.
Generally, Justin Rennie also pointed out other advantages relative to the revision which will seek to upgrade food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, employment generation, and foreign exchange earnings.
Following the consultative process, a comprehensive proposal is to be presented to the Grenada Cabinet, along with a justification for endorsing the updated regulations
