TEATT builds fisheries capacity through skills, equipment and cold-chain investment

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten on Wednesday outlined a series of measures aimed at strengthening St. Maarten’s fisheries sector, including the completion of the first fisheries training cohort, the arrival and planned deployment of Fish Aggregating Devices and the procurement of a dedicated ice-making machine for the Simpson Bay Fish Market.

Heyliger-Marten said Government is taking a practical approach to fisheries development by combining training, equipment, infrastructure and improved handling and preservation of locally caught fish.

“This is an area where we are taking a practical approach: training our people, providing the right equipment and infrastructure, improving how locally caught fish is handled and preserved, and creating opportunities for fisheries to develop into a stronger economic sector,” she said.

Twenty complete first fisheries training cohort

The Minister congratulated the 20 participants who successfully completed the first cohort of the fisheries training program, which ran from August 31 through September 5.

The program was implemented by SEDC, with support through the Country Package, in collaboration with ETT.

The Nature Foundation contributed technical and environmental expertise to the training, while experienced local fisherman Lee Lake brought practical knowledge of fishing and fisheries entrepreneurship directly into the classroom.

Heyliger-Marten said the level of interest in the program was particularly encouraging, noting that demand exceeded the number of available spaces.

For the Minister, that response indicates that people are interested in either entering the fisheries sector or expanding existing activities into stronger businesses.

A second training cohort is therefore expected to be organized, creating another opportunity for fishers and aspiring fisheries entrepreneurs to participate.

“This is exactly what we want to see: not simply talking about agriculture and fisheries, but building the skills and capacity that allow people to participate in these sectors as businesses,” Heyliger-Marten said.

Fish Aggregating Devices arrive from Curaçao

The next phase will move from classroom training to practical fisheries support.

Heyliger-Marten announced that the Fish Aggregating Devices, commonly known as FADs, donated by the Government of Curaçao have now arrived in St. Maarten.

Preparations are underway for their deployment, with a team of experts from Curaçao expected to travel to St. Maarten to oversee the process.

Weather permitting, deployment is scheduled for the middle of next week.

FADs are designed to attract fish to designated offshore areas, potentially giving fishers more targeted access to fishing grounds while supporting better management of fishing activity when used sustainably.

The Minister also publicly thanked Captain Roche Lesperance, who will assist with deployment using his vessel Blessing.

Lesperance, a former fisherman and longtime supporter of the local fishing community, has offered the use of his vessel and his services for the operation at no cost.

“That is the type of community partnership we appreciate,” Heyliger-Marten said.

Later this year, participants from the fisheries training cohorts are also expected to receive practical instruction on the sustainable use of FADs, fish handling and cold-chain management.

The Minister said this is intended to connect the different parts of the fisheries strategy, beginning with training and equipment and continuing into practical experience and stronger income opportunities for local fishers.

“So again, you can see how the different pieces connect: training, equipment, practical experience and ultimately better opportunities for our local fishers,” she said.

Ice machine planned for Simpson Bay Fish Market

The Ministry is also moving ahead with the procurement of a dedicated ice-making machine for the Simpson Bay Fish Market.

The equipment will produce flaked and shaved ice specifically for registered local fishers, providing a type of ice better suited for surrounding freshly caught fish and maintaining proper temperatures during transportation and storage.

Heyliger-Marten said that while an ice-making machine may appear to be a relatively simple investment, cold-chain management has a direct effect on the quality and commercial value of locally caught fish.

Proper cooling affects food safety, freshness, shelf life and the condition in which fish reaches consumers and commercial buyers.

Improving that part of the supply chain can therefore help fishers preserve more of the value of their catch rather than losing quality between the point of landing and eventual sale.

The Minister used the announcement to encourage fishermen and fisherwomen who have not yet registered to do so through the ETT Department, attention Ms. Wendy Jack.

Registration will be important as Government continues developing programs and infrastructure intended specifically for recognized local fishers.

Heyliger-Marten said the wider objective is to put in place the individual components required for fisheries to develop beyond an informal or traditional activity into a more structured economic sector.

“Our objective is to continue putting the building blocks in place so that fisheries can grow from an activity into a stronger, more organized and sustainable economic sector,” the Minister said.

The combination of training, FAD deployment, better fish handling and cold-chain infrastructure is intended to improve both the productive capacity of local fishers and the quality of seafood reaching the St. Maarten market.

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