OECS Media Release— The safety of fisherfolk at sea in OECS Member States has been a perennial concern for authorities across the region. Most fishermen in the region set out to sea in pirogues approximately 12-14 feet long, often facing harsh weather conditions, relentless waves, accidents, and the occasional boat engine failure. While the region has made several strides to improve the safety of fishermen, continuous improvement and training are needed to better the industry, support livelihoods, and preserve the lives of fishers, which remains paramount.
Mr. Sherwin Julius began his presentations by telling the fisherfolk that on ocean vessels, ““Safety first” must be what anyone working on fishing vessels should keep in mind. Safety must be given priority because proper safety measures will save lives, protect vessels from damage, prevent serious accidents and injuries, protect the environment and contribute to profitable fisheries.” Mr. Julius added that the owners, operators, and captains of all fishing vessels are responsible for training their crew on safety.
At the end of the sessions, one of the participants from the St. Kitts cohort, Sandy Wilkin-Francis, said that one of the takeaways for her was, “Safety never takes a vacation.” “This tagline is something we should be mindful of when going to sea. During the workshop, we learned quite a lot about being safe on the vessel, procedures that can be used and should be used to mitigate any hazard at sea,” she concluded.
Speaking about the session in Nevis, Lakisha Rogers, a fisherwoman from Nevis, said, “It was a really good workshop because, as a young fisherwoman, I learned a few things I didn’t know in terms of safety at sea – what to do, what not to do when on the sea. I’m glad I was a part of it.”