COMPREHENSIVE POLICY BEING DEVELOPED FOR FISHING INDUSTRY
SECTORAL DEBATE Opening Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Development, The Hon. Paul Robertson Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Commerce, Science & Technology, The Hon. Phillip Paulwell Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Agriculture, The Hon. Roger Clarke Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of National Security, The Hon. Peter Phillips Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, The Hon. K. D. Knight Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, The Hon. Maxine Henry-Wilson Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Health, The Hon. John Junor Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Transport & Works, The Hon. Robert Pickersgill Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Water & Housing, The Hon. Donald Buchanan Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Land & Environment, The Hon. Dean Peart Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport, The Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of Labour and Social Security, The Hon. Horace Dalley Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport & Works, Hon. Fenton Ferguson Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Water & Housing, Hon. Harry Douglas Sectoral Debate Presentation by the Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security, Hon. Derrick Kellier   Throne Speech Estimates of Expenditure Opening Budget Debate Leader of the Opposition's Budget Presentation Prime Minister's Budget Presentation Closing Budget Debate NEWS ITEMS World Bank Supports Doing Business 2004 Report - Robertson Comprehensive Policy being Developed for Fishing Industry Export Complex at Norman Manley Airport to be Upgraded Banana Industry Rebounding Current Sugar Crop Improves Over Last Year Agriculture Ministry Helping to Increase Production of Pimento Restructuring of Coffee Industry Far Advanced <<Previous Next>>			KINGSTON, May 18 (JIS): Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke said today that for the first time, a comprehensive policy was being developed for Jamaica’s Fishing Industry in the form of a modern policy framework, which would establish a strategic approach to fisheries, management and development planning. Mr. Clarke pointed out that a final draft of the document, titled ‘A Policy Framework and Strategic Plan for Sustainable Fisheries in Jamaica’, would be ready this quarter, as well as the instructions for the reviewing of the Draft Fisheries Bill. Making his contribution to the 2004/05 Sectoral Debate in the House, the Minister said that along with the policy document, was the imminent passage into law of the new Fisheries Bill, the need to prepare for the implementation of its provisions, and the related necessity to prepare the Fisheries Division to discharge its institutional mandate, alongside other public and private agencies that have complementary and convergent mandates in Jamaica. Accordingly, Mr. Clarke said, with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Fisheries Division embarked on a series of consultative meetings with stakeholders throughout Jamaica in August 2003, and these were continued in October. These consultations with stakeholders included the Aquaculture industry and relevant Government agencies covering issues such as: effective organization of fisher folks; stock assessment and research; increased fines and penalties for illegal fishing practices; and enforcement of mesh size limits and other gear limitations. Other topics explored were, protection of ‘no-fish’ zones; the licensing system; alternatives to current fishing practices; incentives for sustainable fishing practices; safety at sea; insurance of life and equipment; and fishing beach management, inclusive of waste disposal and sanitation. “We confidently predict that the people of Jamaica will be the beneficiaries of the project - fisher-folk, consumers... as well as the country’s aquatic bio-diversity,” the Minister stated.