Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources, Physical Planning and Fisheries, Dr Kenneth Darroux, has said that Dominica is facing a major challenge with illegal fishing activity from French neighbors both to the north and the south of the island.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 8th Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum on Friday, Darroux said that on some occasions situations have escalated to heated proportions noting that there are also scarce resources to implement adequate monitoring and surveillance systems to combat this problem.
“Globally we have seen a rush to fishing taking place accompanied by a lack of responsible behavior in the fisheries sector. This type of deviant behavior has resulted in severe decline in some major fisheries of the world and collapse in others,” he said.
According to Darroux, necessary steps must be taken to support international and regional actions which prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
“We must echo the call for greater collaborative efforts to address all of the factors that contribute to the growing rates of decline in our marine eco-systems, health and fish population,” he noted.
Meantime, outgoing Chairman of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, Stephen Willoughby, revealed at the meeting that the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) must adapt to its present environment to ensure that it survives amid the global economic crisis.
“In this challenging environment, only those institutions that can adapt to this global economic crisis will survive,” he said. “Therefore the challenge to the CRFM is to make sure it adapts to its present environment to ensure that it succeeds and this will require thinking outside the box and hence adapting to this new environment will require change in the present structure and policies.”
He added that the CRFM must also access the present environment, access its position in the environment and reposition itself.
Willoughby suggested that the CRFM should adapt itself using strategies to include embracing rapid, evolving technology such as Skype, instead of regular phone calls.
“Building and strengthening partnerships, form new linkages and develop existing ones, use linkages to acquire funding, training and appropriate infrastructure and also being proactive in management, flexible and adaptable to change, embracing globalization and becoming a change agent,” he said.
The CRFM is an inter-governmental organization with its mission being to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region’s fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population.
poof baron left the party because skirret wanted to treat him like a little boy . he call him selffish and foolish for asking for projects for his people especially the resource center for petite savanne …..and this would be very good for the hard working people of the constituency…….petite savanne got talented people ..dancers singers skill men and women semstress fishermen straw bay oil agriculture contruction furniture makers entertainers and lots more come on DR D
This is Rum shop talk.
Give me the rum fast, before the vote pass. I think he is better as a paracetamol chikungunya doc.
“Dominica is facing a major challenge with illegal fishing activity from French neighbors both to the north and the south of the island.”
I do not believe Dominica is facing any challenge with illegal fishing. Traditionally, Dominica always suffer from the lack of fish, and meat. From the time I was born, and came to sense, I discovered that serious catching fish in the waters of Dominica is more or less a seasonal thing!
There are times when plenty of Dolphins are caught, however the majority of time a small amount of red snappers, are caught, however, Sprats, and Fry’s are the order of the day with the seasonal catch of flying fish. seasonally we have plenty of titiwee, so this impression he is creating is nothing more than old talk to impress his visiting guest. The problem he is talking about indicates Martinique to the South, and Guadeloupe to the North. He is not saying Dominica fishermen has also entered the territorial waters of Guadeloupe and Martinique and fish also, this banter has been taking place for a very; long time, more than a hundred years if you ask me.
In order to resolve Dominica’s shortage of fish, the only resolve is to get into deep sea fishing out there into international waters. There are only three islands in the Caribbean endowed with an abundance of fish close to the islands in their territorial waters, and they are Trinidad Barbados, and Antigua!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
I guess you have never been to Grenada…
Give me the job to lock their %%&&$ up after they make their island reserves and they cannot fish there they coming and raid our own .
Minister Darroux you should have coast guards surveillance ’round the clock – at at all times. I realize it costs money. Nevertheless this is the only way they could be curtailed and save the fishes from their clutches. They make money on D/can fishes when the D/can fishermen are deprived of doing so. They are getting all the fishes and no doubt the best.
Those non-D/cans who illegally fish in these waters should be arrested. Why can they not fish in their waters? They deprive D/can fishermen of their right to fish in their waters and to catch ample fish for nationals’ consumption and of course for the livelihood of these fishermen. In addition to talking, immediate action must be taken to combat this illegal fishing.
Trafficking of illegals and drugs by Dominican “fishermen” to Guadeloupe and Martinique illegal too Dr. Darroux. Don’t worry, soon the gendarmes and the French navy will stop them, even in our waters. That is what the chief of staff in Martinique told our P.M., and hand them over to our coastguard and if there is no follow up there will be questions. Ask Skerrit if you don’t believe me. But those things the P.M. not telling you, is he Dr. Darroux? You more educated than Roosevelt but you letting him play you like a jou-jou.
DR Darroux go and finish the playing feild in te savanne for us and start to come up with sustainable projects that will bring some level empolyment to us start opening your eyes///// start working on the resource center for us in the village so that we can work for our daily bread we donot like hand outs we are hard working people//// the playing feild is a waste of money this money could have done better projects in the bay oil industry shame on you disappointed voter
But some of those illegal French fishermen might even a Dominica passport that they denounced
DNO, I am also hearing that some of those illegal French fishermen might have boats right here in Dominica that might not be registered on their name. Please investigate for us
Mr. Darroux, although the negative impact of these Illegal FRENCH fishermen is felt throughout the island, I do not think anyone is affected like the people of the north, especially those from Penville, Vielle case and Thibaud. These villages never have fish and we seeing these illegal French fisherman fishing every single Thursday and no one stops them. It’s time for us to get serious and stop these illegal French fishermen before they finish with our country.
DR Darroux for the last for years u have not come up with not one project of your own ,all u did is baron projects u meet on file .the pichilin road baron housing baron water baron DUBIQUE land baron bellvue chopin housing baron u want to stole all what baron had to do ….people of the constituency DR DARROUX was already to run from u all //he only come back for a pension //he is fed up of the work to much harassment from the people ///SKIRRET FOOL U DO BEYYYYY
@change is a must The sickening thing about this man is that he is so shameless. The man said all these things at St Joseph knowing fully well it was a BLATANT LIE! How long will our constituency continue to be neglected? It’s time we make Darroux, his God Skerrit and the rest of this Labour gang know that we are smart too.
Darroux on polling day we will deal with you with our ‘X’.
I am just seek and tired of these French people doing illegal things in Dominica. That’s a major problem for all of Dominica. I guess we need to call an election and vote out these illegal French fishermen so they don’t live Dominica without fish.
“sick’
I guess they saying the same thing about what Dominicans doing in Guadelouoe and Martinique.
Boss you act as doh you just born . This problem has been their so long you talking about it now is just like jingie fly troubling a sore.
“there”
DR DARROUX give some men a boat …these men a not fisher men ….
we in petite savanne is having tough time to getting our young voters to register because of the registering officers they are trying to forcetrate the young voters form being registed. because they know they wont vote for the labor party so please the officers do u all work and dont be so bias they are paying u all whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Tell Urban about it. One thing for sure i know Urban very well. He is a very cool guy, but when you “Mess Him Up or is attempting to Mess Him Up”, he has a side you will not want to see.
DEAL WITH THE PERSON URBAN!
tech DR .D is a poto workers he and his family eat alot of worker 500 dollars every month tell him go and pay workers back there money so baron can get it to work for the party to beat DR D bottom…… .who hold the seat for the past 20 years for DR D to get it with out he left a finge…r baron is not a dumming ….with all the degree he have baron is smarter than him 99 times SKIRRET have them like little boys …in opposion baron got lot more service than under SKIRRET baron was one of the person who put SKIRRET in power why do this man have to let a little boy he can be his father like those momo ministers baron all the way tech go and sleep
@nextlevel my foot
Well is for all these reasons we must dump that Darroux fella, who stole Urban Sweat and hard work from him, AIDED AND ABETTED BY SKERRIT. Darroux has done nothing in Bellevue . Nothing in Pichelin (that bridge was Urban brain child), Not a fat in Dubique. Urban negotiated for the land in Dubique. Nothing in Fab, Bagatelle and waste of money in Petite Savanne.
Let’s organise Public meetings on our own to get rid of him. HE IS A WASTE!
Urban can get speakers for us. WE DO NOT EVEN NEED TEAM DOMINICA (UWP) HELP. The power is our hands.
WE CAN DO IT OURSELVES and let Urban represent us again. HE WAS BETTER.
The lack of performance of these Parl Reps is lying squarely on the back of Skerrit. Remember he is the Minister of Fincance, and if he does not give the money, nothing is done. However these so called men are all WEAKLINGS, and they deserve this bad treatment. You are elected by the people why can’t you scream in Skerrit’s ears for the projects that your people need.
HOWEVER ALL THAT IS DAM GOOD FOR DARROUX.
Urban was a much better Parl Rep.
u self sot too wii….talking like baron wasnt a lil boy under skeritt
These government ministers are in power or not? They keep on identifying problems and demonstrate their inability to solve them.
That’s what they are in office for, to solve the problems of the nation.
It’s time to get this incompetent bunch out.
Let Dominica go! I’m fed up of this Sh….t
@Annica Alethea I am on record as calling them DUNCE CATS. Some people get RED VEX when i do so, but i will continue to call the Labour Party gang as a party of DUNCE CATS!
They just do not have the vission to do things.
I remember the late PM Charles had signed a contract with the french government too allowed their fishermen to used our ocean for fishing it was all over the news I was in Martinique then it was the late 80s.
I remember Pierre Charles did not become P.M. till Oct. 2000 so how could he have signed a contract like that in the late eighties? You must be confused for sure.
There was no prohibition? They could fish as much as they want for as long as they want and catch as many fishes as they want?
Dominicans are restricted to hunting at certain times of the year. This restriction should also apply to the French and other non-D/cans who fish in its waters.
Late P M Eugenia Charles, not late Pierre Charles.
Ok. I understand that the minister has identified a problem. You are informing our regional colleagues of the problem without mentioning what steps that you have taken to address the problem.
Are you addressing this problem Mr. Minister? If not this is another clear example of your incompetence.
There are so many…
@Mwen So So So True. All of them do the same thing.
TOTALLY CLUELESS
@ pedro. I agree with you. Every time people in authority come and talk they highlight a problem and says somthing needs to be done. Kinda annoying. First of all if you identify a serious problem you fix it and tell us what has been done or what has been put in place to fix the problem. Not today i hearing about that issue. Somtimes i wonder why these folks get paid.
This is the real Pedro.no carbon copy .
can Mr. Urban Baron hold a big meeting as such? all u ppl would be sick to vote Baron.
@tech Oh you idiot, nincompoop and smoked brain, SHUT THE HELL UP with your garbage about Darroux. Go spew your balderdash elsewhere. Can you compare Urban Baron to Darroux in the sphere of politics. Is Darrox a politician?Urban is ONE OF THE LAST REMAINING GRASSTROOTS politician in the Commonwealth of Dominica. TELL THE WORLD I SAY SO. Darroux is an absolute and total ‘Waste of Time’., seldom if ever seen in the constituency on his two feet (guess he is sick and grossly unfit).He is only seen on a black vehicle. If you know the vehicle he ‘PEE PEEP you. If you do not know the vehicle, he passes you straight. So it is better you stay quiet since obviously you are a no brainer. Can you give us or Dominica the accomplishments of Darroux in the constituency? The man was dragged into politics by Skerrit to perpetuate his reign as Prime Minister, but this Darroux is one of the wortst thing that has happened to the constituency.
WAIT UNTIL THE BALLOTS ARE COUNTED AND YOU WILL SEE.
I wonder if you understand the nonsense he is garbling there. I thought you would ask him what about the ways he is helping the local fishermen. Have you visited Fond St Jean where the fishermen land their catch?. So Shut up please. You are just a nuisance with your Darroux.
im from that constituency,,,labour dont get much votes from t savanne anyway..most of labour votes is bagatelle ,font st jen,farb,point carib,stowe,dubique,and maybe bellevue pichlien..so keep calm and take a chill pill!!!!!
@poof This time arounf you must remofe Fab, Fond St Jean and even Bellevue Chopin.
CHANGE IS COMING!
@tech I am from Petite Savanne, I am also a Darroux, and i WILL NOT leave Urban the complete politician and vote for Darroux. THIS IS A HUGE IMPOSSIBILITY.
Do you realize that this is not the issue of this article?
@tech Well I AM A SICK PERSON, because i will vote Urban instead of Darroux for sure.
Hey, is the Dominican election on? I thought the article was about illegal French fishing.
It appears you have missed the point of this article. Is your mind all there?
blah blah blah
Ok mr minister. what is being done about this problem diplomatically and by deterrence through adequate punishment? Even if the coast guard can’t effectively monitor this, are you encouraging fishermen who come across this to call the coast guard? if you can’t beat them, then join them! how about some cooperative agreement to have a joint business venture with french \fishermen if we dont have the means to exploit the fish more fully?speak solutions mr minister, thats what we need..
This a bunch of so call intellectual gymnastic talk, they come they eat they drink and en- joy the ambiance make promises and go back to there respective island or country, it is call a vacation, nothing is done , no follow thru, no accountability, and life goes on and no body notice it is sad. cus steve wonder can see it. and fog , and the wind from belve-chopin clog the mind of the average Dominican, while they on there way to the rum shop. A DIASPORA.