REDESIGN the Vieux Fort Fisheries Complex to make it more attractive! That’s what fishers of Vieux Fort want to see happen for them to effectively utilize the marine resources in the community.
They made this suggestion at a workshop held by a Japanese Overseas Cooperative Volunteer (JOVC) for fisheries development, aimed at seeking views and opinions from Vieux Fort fishers on ways to effectively utilize the marine resources in Vieux Fort.
The workshop was held Sunday at the Department of Fisheries in Vieux Fort.
Yuka Nakamura of Kagoshima University, currently working with the Department of Fisheries in St. Lucia, told this reporter that their goal is to increase the income of the fishers of Vieux Fort and make them happy.
“Vieux Fort has lots of fruits and marine resources, so it can be a good tourist destination,” Nakamura said.
According to the volunteer, the workshop intends to develop an action plan which will benefit the entire community, especially the fishers in the community.
“A large quantity of fish is landed at the Vieux Fort Fisheries Complex, so why can’t we utilize the resources in Vieux Fort?” Nakamura asked.
In providing their views and opinions to enable Vieux Fort to utilize its marine resources, participants stressed the need to upgrade the fisheries complex, which they say is in dire need of a facelift.
“A proper upgrade and maintenance of the complex is what is needed at this time. It has to be redesigned…”a participant said.
He added: “The appearance of the complex discourages people from entering in it…”
Another lamented: “Some fishers contributes to the unsightliness of the complex. They throw rubbish all over the place…”
The fishermen all agree, however, that if the problem is not given urgent attention, it will get worse.
Among the things they identified to be done at the complex after it is redesigned is to have regular fish festivals there, designing an area in the complex where ground provisions can be sold and encouraging tourists to tour the complex.
They also all agree that such a project will require a lot of work on the part of all concerned.
At a fleeting glance at the complex, built by the Government and people of Japan and opened in 2001, reveals its unsightliness.
Meanwhile, another workshop is scheduled for this coming Sunday at the same venue.\