Saint Kitts and Nevis to get a new Fisheries Regulations

The Fisheries Regulations of Saint Kitts and Nevis is now finalized due to recent collaborative work from a team from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs and the Legal Department of the Nevis Island Administration.  The Fisheries Regulations which, when adopted, will implement the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act and support the Island’s efforts to effectively manage its fisheries resources for the benefit of its people. It will also contribute to the effective implementation of the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures while combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing on the island.

The FAO team of Mr Buba Bojang, Legal Officer; Mr Osvaldo Urrutia, International Fisheries Policy and Legislation Specialist and Ms Esther BoyCarmona, Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Specialist along with members of the legal drafting team which was established by the Department of Fisheries worked intensely from 26 June to 5 July to finalize the outstanding provisions of the draft regulations which, together with the Act, provide a comprehensive legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the fisheries resources in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

During their mission, the visiting FAO team paid a courtesy call to Mr. Migel Flemings, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to inform him of the objectives. While expressing the government's gratitude for the FAO's cooperation, Mr. Flemings promised to see that the proposed regulations are adopted.

Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the Honorable Samal Duggins, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine Resources, and Ms. Tivanna Wharton, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and International Transport, on behalf of the Minister. The MOU aims to achieve effective and efficient cooperation and information exchange between the Department of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and International Transport, and the Department of Marine Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine Resources.

Under the MOU, fishing vessels and those meant for fishing-related activities will be registered in a coordinated manner, and these vessels will be continuously monitored to make sure they are not involved in IUU fishing or activities that encourage it.

Speaking on behalf of the FAO team, Mr. Buba Bojang stated that, “FAO is encouraged by the unwavering commitment of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the process which was shown during the signing of the MOU and in the level of participation of the members of drafting team”.