NATIONAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
Fisheries Development in the BVI
Emerging Issues
(continued)
10.0 PROPOSED POLICY GOALS
& STRATEGIES
The fisheries policy should
focus on promoting sustainable growth and economic performance of the sector within a
diversified economy. It should also facilitate the provision of an affordable fish supply
for domestic consumption. Hence, there was a need for the identification of broad policy
goals both medium and long term. The attainment of which will require several strategies.
The following policy goals and strategies are being proposed for consideration.
10.1 Fisheries Policy
The Government should set broad
policy guidelines, both medium and long-term for the fisheries sector.
Policy Goal
- To promote sustainable management
and growth of the sector within a diversified economy.
Objectives
- To increase the production of
fish for local use and for export.
- To fully exploit the available
and under-utilized fish resource.
- To improve the living standards
of the fishermen.
- To ensure environmental
sustainability within the aquatic areas related to the fisheries sector.
10.2 Artisanal/Coastal
Pelagic/Pelagic Fishery
Policy Goal
- To strengthen the capacity of
artisanal fishermen by encouraging/promotingfishing further off-shore.
- To improve the extension services
available to fishermen.
- To revive domestic
production/reduce high imports of shellfish.
- To promote fishing as a lucrative
occupation.
- To develop the potential for
exploitation of pelagic fish stocks.
Strategies
- Facilitate more efficient fishing
by training of fishermen in improved fishing techniques.
- Establish fingerling supply
centers for aquaculture.
- Encourage ventures into fish
farming and demarcate some Bays for this type of fishery.
- Promote long-line fishery.
- Establish a Government supported
venture into purchase of an equipped trawler for long-line fishing.
- Conduct scientific studies to
verify BVI’s fish resource stocks, spawning seasons and fish migratory patterns for
developing effective management measures.
- Establish fishermen cooperatives.
- Increase the vessels involved in
long-line fishery to ten.
- Explore opportunities for export
and enhance local consumption.
- Purchase of a well-equipped
multipurpose/training vessel for the Conservation and Fisheries Department.
- Increase surveillance
efforts/protect the fishing banks from illegal fishermen.
- Provide security of fishing boats
within BVI’s fishing banks/territorial waters.
- Government to ensure a guaranteed
market and appropriate price for landed catches.
- Enforcement of regulations on
marine turtles.
10.3 Recreational
Fisheries
Policy Goals
- To harness the revenue earning
potential of the fishery.
Strategies
- Increase fishing licence fees
across the board, particularly for foreign-based vessels while giving a waiver for locally
based sport-fishing vessels.
- Encourage local investment in the
fishery, particularly Big Game Sport Fishing.
- Streamline registration of
vessels and licensing of foreign vessels involved in sport fishing.
- Define terms/conditions for
operating issued licences and permits.
- Regulate the fishery by putting
in place conservation measures to protect targeted species from over exploitation e.g.
open/closed seasons, size, catch landing, etc.
- Promotion of the BVI as a sport
fishing venue.
10.4 Economic Performance
Policy Goal
- Enhance the diversification of
the economic base through strategic fisheries management and investment initiatives.
Strategies
- Increase GDP contributions from
fisheries by 10%.
- Increase/Categories commercial
fishing license fees.
- Increase government investment
for provision/maintainance of facilities such as landing sites.
- Provide access to loans for
purchase of vessels and equipment.
- Provide customs duty except for
fishing vessels and equipment.
- Establish local bait industry.
- Invest in aquaculture/mariculture
and demarcate certain areas for the type of fisheries.
10.5 Fish Marketing and
Distribution
Policy Goal
- To enhance consumer confidence in
purchase of locally caught fish products.
- To develop an effective marketing
strategy.
Strategies
- Revitalization of the BVI Fishing
Company.
- Streamline present marketing
system.
- Provide incentives for fishermen
to use facilities provided at the BVI Fishing Complex.
- Explore potential for exportation
of unexploited fish species.
- Conduct a research to determine
extent of ciguatera in BVI fish stocks.
- Obligatory testing of all species
for ciguatera poisoning.
- Rehabilitate the processing and
preservation facilities at the BVI Fishing Co.
10.6 Surveillance
and Enforcement
Policy Goal
- To reduce loss of revenue from
illegal fishing activities and licensing of fishermen.
Strategies
- Establishment of a Fisheries
Surveillance and Enforcement Unit manned by trained officers.
- Provision of a patrol boat with
improved sea-going ability.
- Training and use of local
fishermen in surveillance.
- Promote the use of Police Air
Patrol Unit for surveillance duties.
10.7 Legislation
Policy Goal
- To improve the enforcement of the
existing fisheries legislations
Strategies
- Establishment of a fisheries
surveillance and enforcement unit
- Training of personnel in
enforcement duties
- Procurement of a well equipped
surveillance vessel
10.8 Infrastructure
Policy Goal
- To improve the maintenance of
facilities for the procurement of fish landed by fishermen.
Strategies
- Improvement of dock site at BVI
Fishing Company.
- Establishment of more landing
sites with basic amenities of water, electricity, storage shed and security.
10.9 Resource Management
and Conservation
Policy Goal
- To rejuvenate overexploited
stocks of fish.
Strategies
- Demarcation of more fisheries
protected areas/demarcation of dive areas for fisheries protection.
- Set regulations for conservation
of overexploited reef fish stocks as well as exotic fish species.
- Conduct an assessment of
BVI’s fish stocks.
10.9 Data Management
Policy Goal
- To strengthen the capacity for
data collection within the fisheries unit.
Strategies
- Establishment of information
management unit within the Conservation & Fisheries Department.
- Employment and training of more
data collectors.
- Procurement of equipment e.g.
computers.
A. Proposed Fisheries
Policies
1. Policy for the
enhancement and protection of fisheries and the related marine ecosystem.
This would address issues on
conservation of fish resources (stocks) and protection of associated marine ecosystem.
This involves the following:
- establishment of marine protected
areas
- protection of fisheries breeding
habitats e.g. mangroves/seagrass beds
- definition of appropriate fishing
techniques/practices
- definition of closed and open
seasons for fish species
- conservation of endangered
species
- exploitation of abundant species
e.g. pelagics
- resolution of conflicts with
tourism activities
2. Policy for the
appropriate management and control of potentially environmentally damaging activities such
as land reclamation and dredging.
This would address issues on:
- impacts of developmental
activities on the environment
- land based sources of pollution
- pollution from tourism activities
3. Policy to promote the
economic development of fisheries. This involves
- illegal exportation of fish
- landing of catch in the territory
- domestic fish marketing
- duties/taxes on fishing
equipments
- access to loans by fishermen
- provision of infrastructures
- revision of licence fees and
registration of boats.
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