Marine protection brings bigger catches to White River fishers

Prior to the establishment of the White River Fish Sanctuary in St Ann, fishing practices, including overfishing, were threatening the marine ecosystem.

Bu since the sanctuary’s introduction to the community in 2015, the fishers of the White River Fisherman’s Village have come to appreciate the importance of maintaining marine health, which in turn will benefit both their livelihoods and the economy.

Belinda Collier-Morrow, co-chair of the sanctuary which monitors four beaches in the parish, who spoke with The Gleaner recently, said that in past times, the fisherfolk would complain about not having enough fish to catch.

The sanctuary had contacted a small group of fishermen who were passionate about finding a solution to the issue of low fish populations in the waterways. They teamed up to help educate the various fishing communities in the area and to spread word about their objective.

Also, to better communicate the purpose and significance of establishing a sanctuary, they engaged another sanctuary’s assistance.

Collier-Morrow, who also serves as the chairman of the White River Marine Association, explained that it was later determined that the best course of action would be to create a marine protected area, known as a no-take zone, which protects the various species of fish, corals, shells, conch, and other marine plants and animals so as to restore a sense of balance.

“So the idea is, if you can let the young fish get big enough to get to a breeding age, then they will produce millions of eggs. Unless you let them get to two-pound size and breed then, basically, you’re killing off your breeding population,” she explained, noting that this initiative was not aimed at stopping fishing altogether.

She stated that initially, locals were “a little frightened” by this concept of having an area that prohibits fishing, but that over time, and with the cooperation from the local fishermen, they were able to agree on where the borders would be placed to ensure that the fisherfolk would still be able to have a place where they could fish outside of that perimeter.

SAW THE NEED

Delroy Earle, a warden at the sanctuary who spearfishes, said that when he first heard about the sanctuary, he was not happy about its establishment until he attended its first community meeting, which highlighted the struggles faced in the sea and what the potential causes were.

“I [saw] where it [was] necessary, so I [said] I have to be a part of it, and trust me, is a good move me mek because fi inna the spearfishing for over 40-odd years, the fishing business did gone right down, and since the sanctuary in place, trust me, is a big improvement,” he said.

“I know we do a good work, and we just try fi keep it up, you know. We give thanks for the sanctuary,” he added.

Earle, who said he communicates with several fishermen often, stated that they have provided feedback regarding the benefits of the sanctuary’s initiatives. The fishers, he said, are proud to report that there is a greater quantity of fish in the water – including the red garra, also known as the doctor fish; goatfish; butterfish; crevalle jack or common jack; barracuda; and snapper – that are being caught weighing more due to their mature sizes, which enables them to be sold for more money.

Earle stated that the majority of these species were not there before because divers would visit the area regularly.

“So it wasn’t that you didn’t see them before, but it was just that they were so small and then the spearfishermen were up and down the reef, all four, six, [and] eight hours,” Collier-Morrow added.

A BANK ACCOUNT

She further explained that sizeable fish were being spotted, for example, 12-pound snapper, and that when they get to such sizes, they will migrate into the “deeper sea” where the fishers are allowed to take them.

“We treat the sanctuary as a bank account. What is in there is your capital and what goes outside is your interest,” she said.

She said despite this, there are still a few individuals, particularly spearfishermen, who violate the rules, which is why the nine wardens at the fish sanctuary are necessary to keep an eye on things.

Collier-Morrow said perpetrators would go out at nights when most people are not out patrolling the area.

“Spearfishing at night is illegal, sanctuary or no sanctuary. Everywhere in the world at night it is illegal, certainly in Jamaica. In fact, it’s illegal to be walking on the road with your speargun between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.,” she warned.

Earle applauded the sanctuary’s efforts to reduce the number of violations such as this.

“We talk a lot with the spear diver dem and we mek dem know wah mission we deh pon, and the sanctuary is not about today. It’s about the future for the youth dem, and we have to try and engage that and mek sure we have a [proper] sanctuary running, so good,” he said.

Collier-Morrow appealed to consumers not to purchase young fish from fishers and fish markets and to accept that they, too, are responsible for preserving the ecosystem. She urged them to recognise that their actions have a significant impact on preserving the environment and that it was not right to purchase lobster and conch during closed season.

‘Protect. Restore. Engage’ is the motto of the sanctuary, and its workers operate daily with these objectives in mind.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com