CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (July 21, 2005) -- Fisheries Director on Nevis Mr. Arthur Anslyn has urged persons to support the newest introduction to the Culturama list of activities. The first ever Culturama Sea Fair is carded for Saturday July 23 at the Oualie Beach Club.
Mr. Anslyn noted in a recent interview with the Government Information Service on Thursday, two days ahead of the event, that his Department would play an active role at the Sea Fair, which this year will celebrate the historical and modern ties that Nevisians enjoy with the sea.
The Sea Fair is a celebration towards the historical and modern relationship Nevisians have with the sea. In other words, we have come a long way with our marine activities, marine related transportation, fishing, boating in general.
We would like to highlight these aspects of improvement where we were and how far we have come up to the current activities we are pursuing here on Nevis. There is the safety factor of the ferry service; the modern fishing boats that we are now trying to get in the fishing fleet so that we can be more sustainable with our fish supply; the transition from the lighters - sail drive - to power driven boats. The fishing fleets that were once ores and sails are now totally mechanised.
Mr Anslyn also noted that his Department will stage a number of demonstrations at Saturdays event including the making of bamboo fish traps talks on the art of boat building.
We (Fisheries Department) will be highlighting the making of fish traps that were once fabricated from bamboo. I know a lot of persons have heard of it but a lot have not actually witnessed the construction of one of these units
We will have people telling you about boat building, how they cut the timber and cure them and then laboriously cut them into shape and size and implement them into the frame of the boat and then with the technology that was available in those days end up with a boat that floated.
Looking back at what they had in those days and what we do today one cannot really picture that unless you actually get an insight into what took place and what is now being done to appreciate the fact that we have gone a long way, he said.
The Fisheries Director also indicated that talks will also be given and literature would be available on the various types of fish caught by fishers on Nevis, how much is caught and exported and also about lobsters, conchs and various other marine animals and vertebrates.
Mr. Anslyn who is also a member of the committee put in place to organise the event also indicated that the publics support would determine whether the event would become a permanent fixture on the Culturama celebrations annual calendar.
