A consultation with fishers from both St.Kitts and Nevis was held on January 19th, 2017, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Franklin Brown Community Centre in Nevis. The focus of the meeting was to discuss aspects of the management plan for the Fishing Priority Area in the Narrows to be completed.
The Nevis Historical and Conservation Society through the ECMMAN CAMPAM Small Grant Proposal has hired Mr. Audra Barrate, local consultant and Dr William Heyman, international consultant to produce a Community Based Management Plan Fishing Priority Area in the Narrows and a Management Framework for Fishing Priorities Areas for St.Kitts and Nevis.
This consultation included a welcome by Mr. Audra Barrate, a summary of the ECMMAN Project by Mrs. Janice Hodge – ECMMAN In country Project Coordinator, brief remarks were given by Ms. Tricia Greaux -Department of Marine Resources, Dr. William Heyman did a presentation of findings and facilitated a question and answer segment, closing remarks was provided by Ms. Danielle Moore- ECMMAN Outreach Officer.
The Department of Marine Resources hosted a Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) construction session done at on January 11 2017. FADs are man-made objects used to attract ocean going pelagic fish such as marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi (dolphin fish). This is a relatively new fishery to the Federation and is being promoted by the Department of Marine Resources in collaboration with the SKN FAD Fisher Group.
The construction session was conducted by DMR through the expertise of the CARIFICO Liaison Officer – Ms Ashadi Duncan, the participants included three (3) FAD fishers namely; Jermon Smith, Roger Ottley and Franklyn Challenger. FAD heads were constructed using buoys /floats and other floating material that would be transported out to specific off shore locations which are then anchored to the ocean floor with concrete blocks. From this workshop there were four (4) heads that were constructed.
These sessions are held to assist fishers interact in team building exercises and also as a means to educate them on different ways to construct these FAD devices. The benefit of this knowledge is directly linked to livelihood development within this fishery.
DMR HOST TRAINER OF TRAINERS DIAMONDBACK SQUID WORKSHOP
The Department of Marine Resource is hosting a Trainer of Trainers Diamondback Squid Workshop from 9 – 13 January 2017. With the identification of Diamondback Squid resources in the marine jurisdiction of the Federation, the DMR is seeking to carry out trials to assess the possibility of promoting the utilization of these resources. This workshop is the product of collaborations between the DMR, Department of Fisheries Nevis, as well as local and regional fishers to essentially train persons who will then train other fishers.
“There are five major fisheries: lobster, conch, reef and slope fisheries, small coastal pelagic and large ocean pelagic. Exploring the Diamondback Squid as a fishery can bring added economic benefit to St.Kitts and Nevis and provide food security while having the potential of enhancing the livelihood of fisherfolk. The DMR should work on expanding the market for Diamondback squid so more persons can enjoy it as much as I do”, added Workshop facilitator, Mitchell Lay, a fisher of Diamondback Squid in the Antigua.
The Trainer of Trainers Diamondback Squid Workshop has the following objectives:
Promote awareness of the availability of Diamondback Squid fisheries resources in St. Kitts and Nevis
Train fishers in the production of fishin g gear for catching Diamondback Squid
Demonstrate the technique to catch Diamondback Squid
Train fishers in processing and packaging Diamondback Squid
Demonstrate the use of gear and equipment for catching Diamondback Squid suitable for small fishing vessels
Workshop activities include an initial gear and equipment assessment. Aboard MV Transformation, an assessment of potential fishing grounds was done on Tuesday morning. On site at the DMR, there were demonstrations of different gear types, gear making and a presentation of the squid life cycle, sustainability and fishing. Experimental fishing trips will be done throughout the week to test the gear. On Friday, Diamondback Squid processing and value added activities and presentations would be completed.
Facilitator Mitchell Lay and Clive Wilkinson – preparing the gear
Fisheries Officer – Kharim Saddler
Fisheries Officer Kareem Wilkin assisting Kharim Saddler with set up
Squid gear and equipment
Participants from Department of Marine Resources and Department of Fisheries Nevis
After attending the Health and Food Safety capacity building trainings held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Department of Marine Resources staff Ms Nikkita Browne assisted by Ms Marva George conducted an inspection of the Basseterre Fisheries Complex. The first site visit for this year occurred on 5 January 2017.
Ms Browne and Ms George used the procedures outlined from the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) training course surrounding inspections for the fisheries sector especially designed for processing facilities. In the future, other inspections will take place at landing sites, aquaculture sites, as well as small scale and high seas fishing vessels.
Photo taken from inside the Basseterre Fisheries Complex during inspection procedures
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Regional Validation Workshop was held 14-15 December 2016 in Barbados. Ms Nikkita Browne – Department of Marine Resources represented the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis at this workshop.
The workshop covered the legal and regulatory framework for agricultural health and food safety for the fisheries and aquaculture subsectors, including the development of the Model Fisheries Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Regulations in keeping with international best practice measures.
The Regional Validation Workshop was conducted by the Global Centre for International Law of the UK and was sponsored under the fisheries component of the programme on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, approved under the 10th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in partnership with CARICOM Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM).
Representatives of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency, CARICOM Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism.
St.Kitts and Nevis was represented at the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Food Safety Control and Laboratory Operation capacity building training held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Mr Jermaine Mike – St.Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards attended the training from 28 November – 2 December 2016 which covered Laboratory Testing. Ms Nikkita Browne – Department of Marine Resources attended the Health and Food Safety 5-9 December 2016.
The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) training course outlined; functions of the competent authority, traceability measures, training in water quality testing, standards surrounding inspections for the fisheries sector ; landing sites, aquaculture, processing facilities, and small scale and high seas fishing vessels. Manuals will be developed and distributed to countries involved in the training sessions.
Capacity building training activities were conducted by Megapesca Ltd of Portugal and was sponsored under the fisheries component of the programme on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, approved under the 10th European Development Fund Caribbean Regional Indicative Programmes implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in partnership with CARICOM Community Secretariat and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM).
Ms Nikkita Browne – Department of Marine Resources attended the Health and Food Safety training
Mr Jermaine Mike – St.Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards attended the Laboratory Operation training
https://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_4886.jpg16002400newsadminhttps://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Logo-Jpg.jpgnewsadmin2017-01-09 10:22:022017-01-09 13:21:25FISHERY SECTOR SANITARY CONTROL CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING
The Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis was represented at the Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean (WiMAC) conference “Charting the course for generations of women” held in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands from 5th to 9th September, 2016. Among the seventy five delegates were Tricia Greaux -Department of Marine Resources and Thema Ward – Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment Nevis representing St.Kitts and Nevis.
The conference was held in collaboration with the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The conference focused on current an d emerging development trends that are impacting different areas and sub-sectors in the maritime sphere in the context of women’s rights and access. While also providing a forum for the exchanging of experiences and best practices amongst maritime women of the region and for the participants to benefit from global experiences and advancements from a range of strategic partner agencies that can be used to form gender-sensitive standards and strategic directions. One of the conference activities included WiMAC executive and members visited school to sensitize the young girls of the Cayman Islands about careers in the maritime sector.
The Department of Maritime Affairs was instrumental in assisting Ms Greaux and Ms Ward to deliver a presentation outlining the maritime sector of St. Kitts-Nevis. Ms Ward now serves as St.Kitts and Nevis Liaison for WiMAC and Ms Greaux as the Alternate Liaison. They have been commissioned to charter a WiMAC Chapter for St.Kitts and Nevis.
IMO, through its gender and capacity-building programme SDG 5: Strengthening the maritime sector, will provide support to women managers in the maritime and port sectors of the Caribbean with a view to; strengthening WiMAC’s regional cooperation network, further develop the viability of the Caribbean maritime system, the role and contribution of women to the maritime sector, contribute to the implementation of IMO instruments throughout the regional, and increase career development and advanced training opportunities.
For more information on the Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean (WiMAC) see website link below http://www.wimacaribbean.com/.
https://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Thema_Tricia_WIMAC.png332549newsadminhttps://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Logo-Jpg.jpgnewsadmin2016-12-21 11:14:272017-01-24 15:01:46Women of St.Kitts and Nevis represented at WiMAC Conference
The Department of Marine Resources held consultations with the fishers at every major landing site in the Federation during the month of November 2016.
The St.Kitts based consultations conducted at; 9th November at Old Road Fisheries Complex, 10th November at Pump Bay, Fig Tree for the Fig Tree and Sandy Point based fishers, 14th November at the Dieppe Bay Fisheries Cooperatives and 23rd November at the Basseterre Fisheries Complex for the Basseterre East and West based fishers.
Meeting at Basseterre Fisheries Complex
The Nevis based consultations conducted at; 15th November at the Franklin Browne Community Center for New Castle, Long Haul and John’s Bay fishers, 17th November at the Charles Walters Community Center, Hanley’s Road for the Indian Castle based fishers and 21st November at the Gazebo fishers who use the landing site at Charlestown.
Meeting at Franklin Browne Community Center
The fishers were engaged in an interactive session on topics that included Safety at Sea, Trading of Fish and Fishery Products, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported Fishing, Basic Fisher Training, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Registration and New Identification Cards for Fishers, Vessel Monitoring Systems, St.Kitts and Nevis Marine Managed Areas, Species Catch Size Limits, Closed Seasons for vulnerable species, and Trap Mesh Sizes. Presentations were made by the Fisheries Enforcement Officer, Wilmot Alleyne. The fisher feedback will be integrated into the final regulations document to be produced.
November 16 -18 2016 commenced the first phase of the Eastern Caribbean Marine Managed Areas Network (ECMMAN) Socio-Economic Monitoring for Coastal Management (SocMon) Capacity Building Workshop for the Narrows area in St.Kitts and Nevis.
The workshop’s overall objective was the development of the Site Monitoring Plan for the Narrows area through scoping exercises and capacity building through knowledge sharing – data collection, sampling, SocMon variables for monitoring and data analysis. Technical expertise was provided by Maria Pena of Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) from the University of the West Indies Barbados http://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermes/home.aspx .
Images from Scoping exercise
Workshop training
Participants for the workshop included; Thema Ward – Physical Planning of the Department of Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Environment, Clive Wilkinson- Fisheries Officer, Department of Fisheries Nevis, Daniele Moore – Outreach Officer, Nevis Historical and Conservation Society and from the Department of Marine Resources were Marcia Stubbs -Education and Compliance Officer, Nikkita Browne – GIS Officer, and Tricia Greaux – MMA and Habitat Monitoring Officer.
The second phase of the workshop would take place November 28 -29 using SocMon Spatial Tools.
https://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG-20161118-WA0016.jpg12001600newsadminhttps://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Logo-Jpg.jpgnewsadmin2016-11-18 13:50:412016-11-29 12:04:09St.Kitts and Nevis SocMon Workshop 2016
Completion of the Fishery Equipment and Machinery Project in St.Kitts and Nevis
The ‘Improvement of Fishery Equipment and Machinery in St.Kitts and Nevis’ handing over ceremony was held on November 10th 2016, from 9:30 – 10:30, at the Old Road Fisheries Complex. Fishers from the Old Road community as well as members from the St.Kitts and Nevis FAD Fisher Association were present to witness this event. Mr. Marc Williams, Director of the Department of Marine Resources, presented a short overview of the project.
The Honorable Minister Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Marine Resources et al., made remarks thanking the Government of Japan for the contribution to this sector.
Minister Hamilton commented “Partnership between JICA and the Government and People of this twin island Federation always result in forward movement in the realm of sustainability and the continuity of the fishing industry. “
This project has provided the Basseterre and Old Road Fisheries Complexes with an upgrade in refrigeration equipment which would increase the standard of operation as well as materials for the installation of two submerged-type Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs). The multipurpose boat so aptly named “FV Transformation” which incorporate new technologies and will be able to assist in conducting research. The insulated truck will facilitate the mobilization of ice and fish/fishery products to and from rural areas. Training was also conducted on the appropriate operation and maintenance of all of these elements.
The Japanese delegation consisted of Chief Consultant of OAFIC Mr. Hiroshi FUKAO, Counselor of Japan to Saint Christopher and Nevis Mr. Masatoshi SATO, Resident Representative of JICA/JOCV Saint Lucia Office Mr. Tetsuhiro IKE, and NBK Corporation Director / General Manager Mr. Masakazu DAZAI who signed the handing over documents with Honorable Minister Hamilton.
This ceremony also included presentations on submerged FADs installation and a project site visit.
https://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG-20161110-WA0006.jpg10661599newsadminhttps://dmrskn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Logo-Jpg.jpgnewsadmin2016-11-10 14:01:582016-11-10 14:01:58Completion of the Fishery Equipment and Machinery Project in St.Kitts and Nevis
