Dominicans to receive training in fisheries equipment and machinery maintenance in Japan

A fish aggregating device (FAD)
A fish aggregating device (FAD)

Two Dominican nationals have been given the opportunity to travel to Japan for training in the maintenance of fisheries equipment and machinery.

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Johnson Drigo, made the announcement at the handing over ceremony, on November 14th2016, for the donation of some machinery and equipment to the Fisheries Division. The donation was made by Japan, through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  

“Early next year two Dominicans are expected to travel to Japan, where they will undergo training in refrigeration, machine maintenance and troubleshooting,” Drigo said.

 The minster stated that the opportunity came from an ongoing project which was funded by JICA, through the fisheries management project.

“The five year project which commenced in 2013, aims to assist the fisheries division and fisher folks organization to manage the fish aggregating devices (FAD) fishing in a collaborative manner known as co-management,” Drigo explained.

He said the project has so far yielded many benefits such as marketing surveys, extension training in Japan for fisheries officers and the promotion and consumption of the pelagic fish. (Pelagic fish live in the pelagic zone of ocean or lake waters – being neither close to the bottom nor near the shore.)

“However the most visible achievement from this project is the funding for the deployment of an additional ten FADs to ensure all the fishing communities have an equal opportunity to access the FADs,” he added.

Acting Prime Minister, Ian Douglas in his remarks, stated that Dominica is now helping to train other fishers in other fisheries, in the deployment of the FADs in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and sub region.

He said that fishing has evolved, technology has improved and with the improvement in the technology and equipment, “we have to match the technical skills so that when our fishermen go out, we can ensure that they are secure.”

He cited an incident in which two young fishermen lost their lives a few years ago, to highlight the importance of the knowledge of FAD deployment. 

“They followed their father’s trade and became fishermen, and were shining examples of fishermen in the community of Portsmouth and because they went out to deploy their own FADs and perhaps without the proper training. Going out on their own, because fishing is a competitive business, wanting to probably deploy their FADs in a location where other fishers could not find it, they lost their lives while deploying those FADs,” Douglas recounted. “And so, training on the proper deployment of the FADs is very important. It gave me goosebumps remembering this incident as I heard of the training opportunity that we are given,” he exclaimed.

Two brand new, half a million dollar fish aggregating devices (FAD) have been deployed on the east coast as part of the new equipment given by JICA.

A fish aggregating device (FAD) is a man-made object used to attract ocean going pelagic fish such as marlin, tuna, and mahi-mahi (dolphin fish). FADS usually consist of buoys or floats tethered to the ocean floor with concrete blocks.

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10 Comments

  1. JustSayN
    November 18, 2016

    A fish aggregating (or aggregation) device (FAD) is a man-made object used to attract ocean going pelagic fish such as marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi (dolphin fish). They usually consist of buoys or floats tethered to the ocean floor with concrete blocks. Over 300 species of fish gather around FADs.

    The Truth about FADs:
    https://youtu.be/VVbp7PijR6Y

  2. JustSayN
    November 18, 2016

    Over-fishing has severely decreased fish populations in every region of the world, threatening global food security. According to the United Nations. 90 percent of marine fisheries are now over-exploited, fully exploited, significantly depleted, or recovering from over-exploitation.

  3. JustSayN
    November 18, 2016

    Dominica is marketed as the nature island of the Caribbean and must take every possible step to maintain and live up to that accolade. Partnering with the JICA and incorporating the utilization of FAD is a direct contradiction to Dominica’s Nature Island claim. The use of FADs will lead to greater greed/need which will lead to the utilization of Trawls. The ocean’s fish population is already severely depleted. The use of such devices will increase by-catch which will negatively impact the ecosystem. Please forward the following links to Mr. Johnson Drigo and ask that he rethinks this decision:

    http://usa.oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/wasted_cash_report_final.pdf

    http://usa.oceana.org/sites/default/files/rockefeller_report_final_web-version_lowerrez.pdf

    http://usa.oceana.org/reports/system-wide-approach-supporting-improvements-seafood-production-practices-and-outcomes

    http://usa.oceana.org/reports/save-oceans-feed-world

    This is a serious matter.

  4. concern
    November 17, 2016

    One would hope we are not giving the Japanese rights to fish. They willl over fish the waters and take all the fish back to their country with nothing for D/CA. They will kill out the whales that just start putting the island on a year round destination for whale watching

    • Bumbble Lee
      November 17, 2016

      Man you are so right. Most Dominicans living on the Island are more blind than mid-night. Politicians will be paid as usual, as they sell land, sea and passport. Expect a depletion in Whales and other sea creatures in our waters. :twisted:

  5. UDOHREADYET
    November 16, 2016

    Be careful what allu ask for its the whales and dolphins the Japanese want.
    allu should write the necessary laws to protect the ocean habitat.

    • Bumbble Lee
      November 17, 2016

      There are restaurants in Japan open and ready to profit from our blindness. We doe nid no damn Japs meddling in our waters and telling us how to fish. Geeme a brk!! Come on Linton, do something, man!!! :twisted:

    • derp
      November 17, 2016

      they want votes when it comes on the subject of whaling not the whales in Dominica….., China does similar things, don’t you see Dominica voting in favor of China….

  6. Excellent Training by Japan
    November 16, 2016

    Good training from the murderers of whales for ‘scientific purposes’ which end up in fish markets in their country. Good training from the scoundrels that are dumping 300 tons per day of the most radioactive stuff known to man right into the Pacific sea for the past 5 years, each and every day!

  7. derp
    November 16, 2016

    um the description of the pic says “A fish aggregating device (FAD)” that’s a fishing net O.O

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