Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Tufton

Opposition Senator Christopher Tufton yesterday failed to secure the establishment of a joint select committee to assess the state of the fishing industry.

Instead, the Government majority in the Senate amended his resolution, mandating that his recommendations for modernising the industry be passed on to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for consideration and possible implementation.

In his presentation, Senator Tufton made several recommendations for improving the industry, the lot of fishermen, their families and communities. Among other things, he wants the fishermen to be introduced to modern fishing methods, a restriction on the number of entrants to the industry, retraining of those getting out activities, and the establishment of a comprehensive financing scheme for the industry.

Senator Tufton, the Jamaica Labour Party candidate for South West St. Elizabeth, was speaking in support of a motion he had introduced earlier calling for the setting up of a joint select committee of Parliament to address the challenges facing the fishing industry.

Another highlight of his presentation was a suggestion that a new credit scheme be established for the industry, bringing together the fishermen's cooperatives, the credit union movement and the Government. This "comprehensive financial structure" would, he suggested, not just provide loan funds, but savings and insurance for fishermen.

He failed to win government backing for the joint select committee; however, the resolution was amended with a provision instead for his suggestions to be forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands for consideration and possible implementation.

This did not go down well with the Opposition members, with Senator Anthony Johnson, leader of opposition business, asserting that his side "totally" rejected the amendment.

Decline in fish catches

The motion was introduced against the background of a significant decline in fish catches in Jamaica. Government statistics indicate, Tufton said, that in 2005, the country's fish catch was approximately 15.8 million pounds (approximately 7,185 metric tonnes). Data for 2006 suggest a catch of just over 24 million pounds, he said, but added that this included conch and lobster catches.

In the meantime, he said, as stocks decline, an increasing number of fishermen and their families and other dependents are finding it impossible to make a living from the industry.

Estimates differ on the number of persons involved in the fishing industry, but according to Senator A.J. Nicholson, leader of government business, the industry employs approximately 40,000 fishermen directly, with another 300,000 benefiting indirectly.

While acknowledging that the fishing industry faced significant challenges, Senator Nicholson dismissed any suggestion that the situation was as dire as was beingsuggested.

As stocks decline, an increasing number of fishermen and their families and other dependents are finding it impossible to make a living from the industry.