Government of Jamaica
The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has ramped up efforts towards ensuring greater compliance by sector stakeholders, while heightening the entity’s visibility and accessibility to these interests.
The agency is responsible for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of Jamaica’s fisheries resources, in a manner that ensures optimum social and economic benefits to the island.
Principal Director in the NFA’s Fisheries Compliance, Licensing And Statistics Division, Dr. Zahra Oliphant, says boosting personnel attached to the agency’s enforcement arm has been critical in increasing the compliance rate for licensing fishing vessels and individuals.
“On average, about 25 per cent of persons would come back to get their licence renewed. The Compliance Branch, prior to last April, was essentially two very dedicated persons that were doing a lot of work. Now, with the increasing complement of staff for enforcement through the Compliance Branch, at present we have 26 persons,”
Dr. Zahra Oliphant
The Jamaica Fisheries Quarterly Statistics Report for April-June 2023 showed that the period had the highest vessel licence renewal percentage per quarter since the fourth quarter of 2021/22, with 79 per cent.
Statistics from the quarter also reflected a 42 per cent increase in new vessel licences issued, representing the highest out-turn since quarter four of 2021/22.