Open Call for WCS’s Fisher of the Year Award 2022
The Wildlife Conservation Society is calling for nominations for the Fisher of the Year Award 2022. As of June first, interested persons will be able to make submissions. The winner of the Fisher of the Year Award, as well as two Outstanding Fisher Awards, will be announced on June twenty-ninth, 2022, Caribbean Fisher Folks Day. We spoke with Deseree Arzu, the Communications Coordinator at W.C.S., via zoom, for further details.
Deseree Arzu, Communications Coordinator, WCS
“We are asking the public, whether you know a fisher as a friend, whether you know a fisher as a family member, or a neighbor, to send in the names of those people that you think might be qualified for fisher of the year or an outstanding fisher. Who knows, they might be selected for fisher of the year 2022. What are we looking for? First of all you need to let us know who you are. Who are you sending the nomination? What is your name, send us your contact information, send us the name of the fisher, and what is your relation to that person
The third thing we are looking for is the number of years that person has been a fisher. It doesn’t matter if they have just started fishing or fishing for a while, you can let us know. The other criteria are whether that person is a part of a fishing association or cooperative. We ask for this because it is important that people of fishing that fishers bring in the sea food, but it also important they stay active in an association or cooperative to show it is not only about taking, but about giving back to their communities through associations and cooperatives, they can do exactly that. The final thing we are asking folks who send in names of nominees to do is to write a two hundred and fifty words essay and in that essay tell us how that fisher has been involved in fisheries management, how they have conducted themselves to ensure they are fishing sustainably, and how they have shown resilience.”
You can request nominations forms at darzu@wcs.org or at the Fisheries Department. Nomination forms can be dropped off at WCS’s office on Coney Drive or at the Fisheries Department