The Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development has launched a Boat Masters Training Program.
This initiative is designed to educate and train fisherfolk throughout St. Lucia, on various methodologies and procedures for increased safety at sea.
The program will be administered by the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) Marine Unit, twice weekly from 5pm to 7pm, over the course of four (4) weeks, commencing November 12th, 2024.
Under the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC), UBEC has initiated several activities geared towards building resilience and overall capacity in the agricultural sector, by providing direct support to farmers and fisherfolk and other key stakeholders.
Within the fishing sector, this support includes the provision of grab bag equipment which is essential to ensure that fisherfolk are equipped with the necessary items needed for their safety at sea.
In addition, ice making machines, ice coolers, stainless steel fish processing tables, fish trays and display cabinets will be distributed to fishing cooperatives throughout the island, to facilitate proper fish handling and storage.
Moreover, a number of activities relating to the construction and deployment of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) are airmarked, and navigational lights for fishing vessels will be provided to fisherfolk, and installed at the entrance of fishing ports and jetties.
Collectively, the aforementioned activities and the Boat Masters Training Program have been meticulously selected to significantly increase the overall safety of fisherfolk while at sea, while increasing the efficiency of their operations, and to ascertain that the fish provided to the public is safe for consumption, having been handled and stored properly.
Upon completion of the Boat Masters Training Program, fisherfolk will receive their certification to confirm their participation and expanded skill set.
The program will cover topics including, but not limited to, Nautical Terminology, Radion Voice procedure, First Aid, and Rules of the Road.
Training sessions will be held at the following venues: Gros Islet Secondary School (St. Lucia Sports Academy), in Beausejour for Gros Islet fisherfolk; Department of Fisheries Conference Room in Pointe Seraphine, for Castries and Anse La Raye fisherfolk; Clendon Mason Memorial Secondary School in Dennery, for Dennery fisherfolk; and the Department of Fisheries Conference Room in Vieux Fort, for Vieux Fort, Laborie and Choiseul fisherfolk.
The Boat Masters training will be made available to fisherfolk in Micoud, Soufriere, and Canaries in the coming year.
To date, a total of 150 fisherfolk have registered for the program, and this number is expected to increase over the coming weeks.