Last Updated on August 16, 2024, 1:59 AM AST by Anthony Morris
St Kitts and Nevis: Minister of Marine Resources, et al., Samal Duggins, reflected upon his two-year journey in office and the progress his ministry has made in supporting fisherfolk and preserving marine resources.
Minister Samal Duggins, through his official social media, shared a post that highlights impactful actions taken by his ministry in the past two years.
While sharing the post, he stated that as he reflects on his two years in office, he is really proud of the progress that his team has made in empowering the fisherfolk and saving the marine resources.
He shared that when he began this journey, many fishers complained about certain challenges such as accessing essential gear, reduced catches in coastal areas, worrying about the quality of the catch, and dealing with the loss of gear due to storms.
In response to these challenges, Minister Duggins and his department took decisive actions. The decisions that were taken by them are:
- Making of fishing gear more accessible and affordable for the fishers.
- Construction of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to increase catches of pelagic fish, providing training on catching underutilized species like squid, and promoting alternative livelihoods such as sea moss cultivation.
- Providing free ice to those supplying fishes to their complexes, ensuring top-quality catches.
- Recognizing the impact of storms, distribution of biodegradable fish pots and raincoats to the fishers and cooperatives.
The Minister of Marine Resources mentioned that these initiatives reflect their unwavering commitment to empowering their fishers and safeguarding the resources that sustain their communities.
He also extended his sincere gratitude to the Department of Marine Resources St Kitts and Nevis for their hard work and dedication in making these advancements possible.
He also added that he will remain committed to addressing the concerns raised by the people, and to look forward to continuing the important work with initiatives like the construction and deployment of artificial reefs, increased safety at sea, and basic fisher training.
“While I’m grateful for the progress we’ve made together, there’s still more to be done,” Minister Samal Duggins said.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
