STATUS OF FISHING VESSEL SAFETY IN THE CARIBBEANCOMMUNITY
Prepared by: Peter A. Murray, Terrence Phillips and John Lewis
ABSTRACT
Given the strategic importance of the fisheries sector to the Caribbean Community,having regard to the significant contribution it makes to the level of employment andexport earnings as well as the enhancement of food security and the vibrancy of thetourism sector of Member States, the safety of fishing vessels in the Community is acritical issue that needs to be addressed.Most of the inshore and coastal fishing in the region is carried out in open or half-deckedvessels, powered by conventional outboard motors. There is a transformation under waywhere the more traditional wooden vessels are being replaced by more seaworthy 7-10mglass fibre vessels powered by outboard engines. The main safety issues relate, but arenot limited to:(i) diving accidents – conch, lobster, reef fish, black coral fisheries;(ii) accidents due to mechanical or physical problems encountered with boats,engines, fishing gear;(iii) emergencies due to severe weather conditions at sea;(iv) medical emergencies and lack of first aid support;(v) damage/destruction to property and life due to natural disasters; and(vi) the potential impact of climate change and the rise of sea levels.A number of initiatives related to safety at sea have taken place within the region and stillothers are in the early stages of planning and/or initiation. In addition to reviewing theseinitiatives, this paper suggests the implementation of a generic programme for improvingthe safety-at-sea of small scale fishing vessels in the CARICOM region. This programmeinvolves the establishment of standard specifications for the design and construction of fishing vessels and the establishment of efficient fishing vessel inspection services as anapproach to addressing the safety issues. In attempting to achieve the required standardsand efficient vessel inspection services States need,
inter-alia
, to take into consideration:(i) the size and ranges of fishing vessels to which the standards are to beapplied;(ii) the prevailing weather conditions;
2(iii) the distances that the vessels may operate from safe havens; as well as(iv) the type of fishing operations to be carried out.CARICOM Member States have an opportunity to develop suitable minimum standardsand a common approach to their implementation through technology exchange and aharmonized system of fisheries rules and regulations in relation to fishing vessels. Thisremains an imperative for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in theregion.
Key words
Caribbean Community, safety at sea, fishing vessel standards, sustainable development
IMPORTANCE OF FISHERIES IN THE CARICOM REGION AND ASSOCIATEMEMBER STATES
The Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) comprise Antigua andBarbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica (Dominica),Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago representing a total population of approximately 15.2 million (including Haiti’s estimate of 8.8 million). TheAssociate Members of the Community are Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turksand Caicos Islands, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. Within the Community a sub-setof States are also members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).These are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis,Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Associate Members of the OECS areAnguilla and the British Virgin Islands.The fisheries sector in the CARICOM region is of strategic importance, employing over 142,000 persons, directly or indirectly, who are mostly from remote rural communitiesthat lack income earning opportunities from other economic sectors. The sector earnsover US $150 million per year from export and saves the region at least three times asmuch in foreign exchange since the volume of production is four times the volume of export, accounting for up to 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of some Member States. Fisheries are a major source of protein especially in rural communities whichusually exhibit a higher percentage of poverty than the national average. Additionally, thesector complements and enhances the region’s tourism through its use as a vehicle for fishing excursions and fishing tournaments. Shrimp, queen conch, reef fishes, deep slopeand bank fishes, coastal and offshore pelagic make up the marine capture component andare by far the most important economically in the fisheries sector. Fish production inCARICOM/CARIFORUM countries in 2000 was 195,000 MT approximately with anestimated value of over US$500 million. Fish consumption is high in CARICOMCountries, in most cases higher than the world average, being second only to poultry as asource of protein. In fact, in many rural areas it is the main source of protein. Wheretourism is important divers, snorkelers and recreational fishers also rely on fish. Sportfishers mainly target the large pelagic fish species. It is anticipated that the sector willgrow in importance in the future.
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Description of the Fisheries in the /CARICOM Region
Bottom dwelling species found on continental and island shelves have been the mainstayof most CARICOM fisheries. Lobster, conch, coral reef fishes, shrimp, ground fish andsmall coastal pelagics make up the bulk of landings. Fish production by, and speciesgroup composition in, CARICOM Member States have been steadily increasing from1950 to 1999 (Haughton, 2003).The distribution of fishery resources in the Member States of the OECS can be broadlydivided up on a geographical basis (Wilson, 1999) in a manner typical of the insular Statesof the Community. The northern group have significant shallow water resources (coastalreef demersals and pelagics) and more distantly located offshore pelagic and deep sloperesources. Amongst the southern group, shallow water resources are less significant.Deeper water pelagic and deep slope resources are relatively near and easily accessible.The inshore resources, particularly shallow water reef resources, shallow water lobster andconch are under some stress. These resources have historically been the easiest andcheapest to exploit due to their proximity and the suitability of traditional fishing methods.In some States there is very little targeting of demersal deep slope (shelf edge) fisheryresources. Ciguatera poisoning of fish poses a particular problem in specific areas of theLeeward Islands, making some coral reef resources unexploitable and creating a lack of consumer acceptance for some species. In general, offshore resources and larger pelagicsare felt to have the best potential for increased exploitation, based upon some existingresource studies and, particularly in the Windward islands, the apparently high profitabilityof the fishery (Wilson, 1999). The continental Member States of CARICOM are richer indemersal resources with shrimp, ground fish, lobsters and conch being the main incomeearners. However, most of these resources are either being fully exploited or are over fished.
TYPES AND SIZES OF VESSELS AND AREA OF OPERATION
Most of the inshore and coastal fishing in the region is carried out in open or half-deckedvessels, powered by conventional outboard motors. There is a transformation under wayand the more traditional wooden vessels are being replaced by more seaworthy 7-10mglass fibre vessels powered by outboard engines rarely smaller than 75HP and often over 115HP. In Guyana and Suriname, vessels are still being made of wood and engines for Chinese seine vessels, which range from 21 to 30 feet length over-all, and cadell linevessels, which range from 15 to 30 feet LOA, can range from 9 to 45 horsepower; whileopen gillnet vessels can have outboard engines ranging from 25 to 75 hp.
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Fishing Vessel Safety in the Caribbean Community
Murray, P.A, Terrence Phillips and John Lewis, 2004. Status of fishing vessel safety in the Caribbean Community. Presented at the Regional Workshop on safety of indigenous fishing vessels in the Caribbean, St. Lucia, December 7 – 10, 2004. International Maritime Organisation. 15p.
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