In Barbados, while seafood imports exceed exports which are low in both volume and value compared to other countries that have fisheries for lobster and shrimp, fish is important for local food security. Seaside communities such as Oistins, Six Men’s, Martin’s Bay, Tent Bay, Consett Bay, Skeete’s Bay have traditionally been dependent on the fisheries sector for sustenance. Be it through fishing, processing, distribution, retailing, net making, boat building, etc., the entire life of a village was stimulated by the sector.
However, with Barbados’ obvious ecological vulnerabilities like climate change, which has been attributed to the rising ocean temperature and increased acidity which makes it more difficult for marine organisms to reproduce, as well as threatening already diminishing fish stock, it begs the question: what is the future of fisheries in Barbados?
Given evidence of depleting fishing stock, a draft report prepared for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Oceans Economy and Trade Strategy: Barbados Pelagic Longline Fishery in 2020 found that in terms of the future value of the sector, Barbados’ large pelagic fisheries has great possibilities.
The FAO report detailed eight high-level interventions that, if implemented, could potentially increase the gross revenue generated in the fishery over the next seven years by $7.5 million or an average additional revenue of $1.1 million each year.
Read more:
https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/11/30/a-rich-tradition-of-fishing/