We also asked the Minister about the call from fisherman Norris Meighan of Belize City for the government to lead the way in deep sea fishing for the fisherfolk. He reasons that climate change has caused traditional fishing grounds to become too warm, thus chasing lobster, fish, shrimp, and conch to cooler, deep waters.
Meighan told us that, in his opinion, the traditional fishers have to transition to deep-sea fishing, which requires more expensive equipment and more technical expertise.
We asked the Minister about that deep-sea survival plan, and here's what he had to say:
Abner Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
"Climate change is real, and as far as we're concerned, as Belize we are experiencing it firsthand. So, when we advocate on telling the world that climate change is real, we are not there by choice. We are there because we are getting, we are forced to be saying that climate change is happening. That I can hold sentiment on what the fisherfolk are saying. So now the second part is that we must diversify and that's a key word that we discussed here. Diversification is important and that means that we have a responsibility as a responsible government to start training our fisherfolks in diversifying. Not necessarily only fishing but I did mention also about combining whatever they do with traditional way of fishing, with tourism. Also, it is important when you talk about these slow fishing. Studies are being done with the help of the government of Taiwan, that we must first assess what is the potential economic value that we have with deep seas. After quantifying that, then we must move in training our fisher folks that it's time to look at deeper waters to go and fish. Now, it is more expensive, we are talking about more expensive finishing gears and as such we must work along with them, but the deep slope fish that we can harvest has a higher value as well."
Reporter
"Sir, let's say for example the entire membership of registered fisherfolks embraced deep slope and deep sea fishing, is there any estimate that you guys have conducted as yet as to the amount of money it would cost to transition to that more expensive form of fishing?"
Abner Andre Perez, Minister of Blue Economy
"Yes, that is part of the studies that is going to be coming out very soon so it's yet to be but we have to quantify it first and we do know that to go out and fish is not on a small vessel but going out on bigger vessels which is longer days out there and you need to use stronger gear. So, we are talking about a big change in terms of economics cost to it, but certainly prior to what we have in terms of quantifying the value of the deep sea fish that we have there, it depends on how it comes out."
On September 13th, a little over nine weeks ago, the Ministry of the Blue Economy sent out a press release announcing that they were in early talks with the Taiwanese Government to explore the viability of a "Deep Sea Fishing Resource Exploration Program" in Belize.
Their statement said, quote, "Taiwanese experts will engage with the national fisheries authority, key government agencies, businesses, fishers, and other stakeholders in a fact-finding mission on current and future fishing activities. This information will be used to develop a proposal for Belize, which will include an implementation plan to guide the deliverables of the project." End quote.
