THREE university students have presented their study on the fish distribution systems in the south of Saint Lucia to the Department of Fisheries.
To complete this study, the trio surveyed the chain of distribution starting from fishers catching the fish to the distribution, and finally, the marketing of the fish.
The volunteers also conducted a study at the customers’ end to see their perspectives on fish as a food. The study was conducted by questionnaire that asked about frequency of fish consumption per week, reasons for disliking fish, favourite places to purchase fish and why, among other questions.
It is hoped that the answers to that survey may be linked to the fish distribution systems in the future. The results were presented last week to the Department of Fisheries in Sans Soucis where the volunteers also distributed pamphlets on how to fillet fish and how to make a Japanese fish broth.
The survey and the team’s presence in Saint Lucia are part of a movement between the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency/Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (Saint Lucia) to involve university students studying aspects of marine life in the Fisheries industry in the island.
The students observed facets of the fishing industry while here and then designed and carried out studies based on what they found.
Topics are mainly related to fisheries development, although they have also been engaged in studying environmental education, marine biology, fish landing and related socio-economic surveys.
The students came from Tokyo Marine University of Science and Technology in Japan. The next batch of students will arrive on August 24 from Kagoshima University and will also stay for a period of four weeks.