All Tobago Fisherfolk Association (ATFA) president Curtis Douglas has sent a letter to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
According to Douglas, the document, which was emailed and mailed, highlights the concerns Tobago fishermen have with Barbadian fishermen fishing in T&T waters. He hopes Rowley responds by next Wednesday.
Douglas claims Bajan fishermen are overfishing in T&T’s territory, and it is affecting local fishermen economically.
Bajan fisherman Dave Jackson yesterday admitted to Guardian Media that flying fish were scarce in Barbados and that’s why they are now venturing into T&T’s waters.
“We ain’t got no flying fish in Barbados waters and the guys are taking a chance to come down by you and get a few fish to feed the family,” Jackson said.
Jackson said recently, fishermen tried catching flying fish in their waters but came back empty-handed.
“The other day, they say they doh catch nothing,” he added, noting this is why they are now venturing into T&T waters.
However, he said he was unaware of any animosity between T&T and Bajan fisherfolk over the issue. In fact, said when they come into T&T waters, they are welcomed, adding it’s also impossible for them to overfish.
“I don’t think you have all the fish in Trinidad. We got nothing in Barbados…there are billions and billions of flying fish in the sea, so what if we get a couple,” he said.
Another Bajan fisherman, Victor O’Neal Drayton, echoed Jackson’s statements. He said he was also not aware of any resurrected tension between the fishermen of the island.
He said because of climate change, flying fish, which are a favourite Bajan staple, migrated closer to Tobago and they simply follow the fish.
Both men believe, however, that a new fishing agreement is needed to finally resolve the issue of encroaching in each island’s territorial waters.
O’Neal Drayton said the contract should include restrictions on gear, how far Bajan fishermen can go, as well as the expiration dates. The last two agreements (1990 and 2009) were for one year, he said. Jackson added that the agreement is not just between them but governments as well.
Guardian Media sent questions to the Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne on Tuesday but there was no response up to yesterday.
Calls to Chief of Defence Staff Darryl Daniel also went unanswered. The T&T Coast Guard has been criticised by ATFA for not monitoring T&T’s waters to prevent illegal fishing.
