ROADTOWN Tortola, BVI, December 16th, 2011 – Fishing is one of the traditional industries that the Government of the Virgin Islands is working diligently to revive, according to Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering.

Honourable Pickering told the Department of Information and Public Relations that he is working closely with fishermen in the Territory to find viable solutions to counteract the many challenges they are faced with in the sector. In a meeting last week with the Anegada fishermen at the Emile Dunlop Community Centre the Minister said, “Our first step will be establishing a fishing corporative on the island, but you have to make it happen putting all the dynamics in place and then coming back to me and letting me know what our Government has to do.”

Honourable Pickering said that the fishing industry is very important to “one’s livelihood and I will do whatever is necessary to assist with revitalising and strengthening the sector, thereby improving the standard of living for all.”
“I want to do the best that I can to assist,” the Minister said, adding, “I want to see the best for my country and its people.”

Some of the issues discussed include the need for a fisheries officer on the island, why the close season for lobsters should be shortened and the granting of fishing permits.

Additionally, Minister Pickering said that there would be amendments to the Virgin Islands Fisheries Act 1997.
He said, “Amending the fishing regulations so that we can ensure that we are helping and not hurting will also be a necessary step that we will have to take as part of the solution to these issues.”

The Minister thanked the fishermen for taking the initiative to request the meeting and assured them that he would take the issues mentioned to his colleagues in an effort to resolve them. In closing the minister said, “If we are going to move forward, we have to find the solution.”

Approximately, 20 persons attended the meeting. The Minister was accompanied by Permanent Secretary Mr. Ronald Berkley, Acting Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer Mr. Kelvin Penn, Acting BVI Fishing Complex Manager Mr. Lloyd Williams and the Anegada District Officer Ms. Andrea Vanterpool.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour endeavours to effectively manage and administer the natural resources of the Territory in a manner that ensures long-term sustainability.

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