LAUNCHING OF ENFORCEMENT VESSEL

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Floyd Green.

The Promoting Community-Based Climate Resilience in the Fisheries Sector Project was granted effectiveness in March 2018 and will be executed over a 5-year period by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MOAF). The project development objective is to increase the adoption of climate resilient practices among targeted fishing and fish farming communities in Jamaica.

The key outcomes expected from the Project include:
Strengthened and climate-smart fisheries and aquaculture policy and regulatory framework;
Reduced vulnerability of the targeted fishing and fish farming communities to climate shocks; and
Diversified and strengthened livelihoods of targeted artisanal fishers and fish farmers.

The Project has three main components. The acquisition of the enforcement vessel and subsequent launch is a deliverable under Component 1: Strengthening the Policy and Regulatory Framework. This component has two outcomes.

The strengthening of the Fisheries Policy and Regulatory Framework for climate resilient fisheries and aquaculture management, through, inter alia:, (i) supporting the development of a strategy and action plan for the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy; (ii) supporting the development of guidelines and protocols for promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices, taking into consideration climate impacts on fisheries and aquaculture production; and (iii) providing technical assistance for the drafting of regulations on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries management, monitoring, control and surveillance
Promoting sustainable fisheries management, through inter alia, (i) supporting the establishment of new and strengthening of existing partnerships with relevant entities to manage marine protected areas by providing training and equipment for the National Fisheries Authority other relevant entities.

The procurement of this enforcement vessel has been facilitated through a small Recipient-executed Trust Fund grant which is financed by the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), which falls under the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) and which is administered by the World Bank. The vessel has been purchased at a cost of US $165,000 and will be used to support and strengthen the National Fisheries Authority’s enforcement efforts. More specifically, the vessel will be used in a programme that will impact illegal, unreported and un-regulated fishing practices within the coastal areas.

IUU fishing continue to remain one of the greatest challenges for the NFA and Law enforcement as it undermines all efforts towards good governance and sustainable fisheries management. For the 2019/2020 Close Season enforcement period for conch and lobsters the NFA seized 85.6 Kg of conch and 194.1 Kg of lobsters while making 33 arrests. There has been successful outcomes in the Courts with fines levied in total of over $1M and climbing as more cases continue to being heard. However this success is attributed to trade of these fish products along the supply chain only. The acquisition of this asset through this PPCR Project will now facilitate its tactical deployment to combat primary harvesting of fish in all our fish sanctuaries, effectively consolidating our overall enforcement efforts.

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