(MOA Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 07, 2025):
The Department of Marine Resources of St. Kitts and Nevis (DMR) hosted a critical focus group meeting on Wednesday March 06, 2025 at the Old Road Fisheries Complex. The session brought together local fishers and vessel operators to discuss the use of biodegradable panels on fish pots as a solution to mitigate ghost fishing and reduce the impact of abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) on marine life.
Ghost fishing remains a significant challenge in marine conservation. When durable fishing gear is lost at sea, it continues to trap and kill marine organisms, depleting fish stocks and destroying habitats. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ghost fishing is responsible for a 5-30% reduction in global fish populations.
Recognizing the gravity of this issue, the DMR opted to collaborate directly with fishers to explore practical solutions. By engaging the fishing community in dialogues and decision-making processes, the department also seeks to cultivate a collective responsibility for ocean conservation. This approach not only incorporates fishers’ perspectives and experiences but also improves the efficacy and acceptance of sustainable fishing practices.
During the meeting, attendees provided valuable feedback and data on the performance of biodegradable panels that have been tested in local waters. The discussion highlighted both the benefits and challenges of implementing such solutions in the fishing industry. Fishers acknowledged that while traditional fish pots are durable, their persistence in the ocean after being lost poses a significant threat to marine biodiversity.
In a brief discussion with the fishers, Fisheries Assistant at the DMR, Kharim Saddler said that the use of biodegradable panels in St. Kitts and Nevis, is seen as a promising approach to ensuring that lost fish pots degrade over time, preventing them from continuously capturing marine life. He added that at the conclusion of the meeting, the fishers committed to incorporating biodegradable panels into their fish pots for a three-month trial period.
Saddler explained, “The meeting was with a group of trap fishers who would have at the end of the meeting committed to installing biodegradable panels on a number of their traps in order to facilitate the collection of data regarding the performance of the biodegradable material in various environments and working conditions which would be able to allow the department to make a comparative analysis regarding what material will be best for our regulatory purposes.”
The Department of Marine Resources will closely monitor the effectiveness of these panels, collecting further data to determine their long-term viability.
This initiative is a step forward in sustainable fishing practices and forms part of the COASTFISH project, funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
