New Digi-fish project aims to improve safety at sea for fishers

A project was launched last Monday, December 16, by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund (SVGEF), where 30 Pelagic Data Systems(PDS) Digi-fish devices were distributed to fishers and boat owners. These devices will improve safety at sea, addressing the recent rise in cases of fishers being lost at sea.

The ceremony was held one day after the MV Gem Star 2 ferry had to be towed to Canouan after it began drifting in Southern Grenadines waters. Executive Director of the SVGEF, Louise Mitchell, who presided over the ceremony, said that was a case where the PDS device would have been crucial to quickly locate the drifting ferry.

The project was launched in collaboration with local fishers, the National Fisherfolk Organisation (NFO), and the Fisheries Division, with the hope that the SVG Coast Guard will also be on board the project.

Mitchell explained that many people from the Grenadines and/or coastal communities on the mainland will have a story to tell of how they lost a family member at sea or found them days later.

“So what this project allows is for us to ensure that we always know where our fishers are.”

Mitchell also disclosed that the project holds sentimental value for her, as her grandfather was lost at sea when her father, the late Sir James Mitchell, was less than 10 years old.

“His vessel was subsequently found in the Bermuda Triangle, with no one on board,” she related.

Chief Fisheries Officer, Jennifer Howard, outlined that the project aims at collecting data to analyse changes in fishing over time, and enhance maritime surveillance.

She highlighted the benefits of using mobile apps, GPS, and satellite imagery for real-time monitoring, which aid fishers and policymakers in making informed decisions.

Additionally, predictive analytics can help forecast weather patterns and climate impacts, facilitating safer fishing practices.

Manager of SVGEF, Stephan Hornsey, presented an overview of the project which involves the installation of 30 devices for capturing data related to sea safety and fisheries management.

Currently, 28 devices have been installed, at locations including Calliaqua, Kingstown, Paget Farm in Bequia, and Clifton dock in Union Island.

The devices were placed to ensure access to sunlight, and connectivity concerns when out of range were addressed by Hornsey who explained that signals from other countries like Barbados and Grenada will be available since the project has already been launched in those countries.

While fishers will have access to their data, the Fisheries Division, NFO, and Coast Guard will have access to the broader data of all fishers. The installation was a voluntary service provided at no cost to the fishers.

Minister of Agriculture, and Fisheries, Saboto Caesar, who delivered the feature address, hailed this technological advancement in fish catching and sea safety- a story he said he wished he could tell his great-grandmother who always feared for him going out to sea when he was a youngster because she believed “sea nah have no back door.”

The minister stressed the importance of addressing the issue of fishers lacking swimming skills, which pose a significant challenge for developing the fisheries sector, especially as tourism increases and the need for boat operators to swim during emergencies grows.

Caesar said the government has plans to assist more than 100 individuals in installing the Digi-fish devices, and plans to incorporate this as a requirement into the revised Fisheries Act. He also noted the government’s investment of EC$3 million to support fisherfolk impacted by Hurricane Beryl, with plans to distribute EC$2.5 million to qualifying fishers.

Also, almost EC$12 million will be disbursed by today, Friday, December 20, 2024, to farmers, farm workers, boat owners, and their crews for income support for the last quarter of this year.