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| Snapper bought by the Basseterre Fisheries Terminal from local fishermen last Saturday |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 27TH 2006 - Local fishermen landed over 650,000 pounds of fish worth over EC$5 million last year.
Delivering an address at the ground breaking ceremony for the new US$5.6 million fisheries terminal at Old Road, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Cedric Liburd disclosed that some 200,000 pounds of fish worth EC$1.6 million have been landed by local fishermen for the first two months of 2006. Last year, 671,000 pounds of fish were landed at a value of EC$5.1 million.
Minister Liburd said a significant portion of total landings in St. Kitts are by boats registered in the Old Road area.
"The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has recognised the importance of this fishing community and has therefore made the necessary arrangements through the Japan Grant Aid Programme to ensure that there is development in the infrastructure in this community that has, not just a rich historical tradition, but also a rich fishing tradition," said Minister Liburd.
He pointed out that Old Road has traditionally been a fishing community and is one of the few remaining seine net fishing areas for gars and jacks.
"It accounts for almost 40 percent of the island's catch for small pelagics. Boats registered from this area, land close to 50 percent of the large pelagic, such as dolphin and tuna," added the Agriculture minister, who was of the view that Old Road community has a combination of experiential and technical fishing skills and knowledge, that is unmatched by any other fishing community in St. Kitts.
