Fishermen receive conservation education
The television and radio are full of public service announcements warning of the evils of illegal fishing. But is the message getting through to the people who are working out at sea? One effort by the United Nations is aimed directly at the fishermen.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning Chairman of the Belize Fisherman’s Cooperative Association, Allen Bevans Green signed the dotted line and received the final cash installment for an educational program the association had spearheaded to educate fishermen about sustainable fishing techniques.
Allen Bevans Green, Chairman
“The program is about awareness, an education program and awareness of sustainability to keep our fishing industry for our future generations; to have education to enlighten our fisherman about awareness, conservation and economics of the fishing industry.”
Janelle Chanona
“Do you think people in Belize still have this idea, fishermen especially, that the lobster can’t done, the conch can’t done?”
Allen Bevans Green
“Yes. Mostly in the rural areas, mostly in the rural areas, you need to have some educational programs set up in the rural areas because they still have that thought there.”
With that in mind, the association produced educational materials to distribute not only to Belizean fishermen but also to primary and high school students. The Global Environmental Facility of the UNDP supplied the funds to meet the costs of the program. One participant says he hopes more workshops will come on line soon.
Charles Heusner, National Fisherman’s Cooperative
“Life is a catch on process, so you know with a couple more sessions, the fisherman will be aware. Because if you catch an out of season product, you only could get $10 a pound maximum. If that same product is left, the fisherman fishes it he could more than double his earnings. It’s timely process, you have to show them the better way rather than something they are sort of used to.”
Allen Bevans Green
“We know for a fact that the main thing is that you don’t mess with the wild, mostly in the aqua culture sector, in the wild. The most important thing we need in our fishing industry is good fishery rules and some good participation of the fisherman to have educated sessions to enlighten them on what’s going on in the fishing industry.”
Janelle Chanona for News Five.
The total grant was for $47,000. The education program included fishermen from all over the country.
