Senator Kaygianna Toussaint-Charlery, who also serves as Operations Manager of the Goodwill Fishermen’s Cooperative, has raised concern over mounting challenges facing Saint Lucia’s fishing sector, citing climate change and illicit activity as key threats.
Speaking candidly on the state of the industry, Senator Toussaint-Charlery acknowledged government efforts to support fishermen, including port upgrades and increased fuel rebates, but stressed that these interventions address only a fraction of the sector’s wider problems.
“As much as the government has sought to look out for the interests of fishers,” she said, “the reality is that they are grappling with far more.”
She noted improvements such as the fencing of the Vieux Fort and Dennery ponds, additional resources for fish aggregating devices (FADs), and a fuel rebate increase from $1.50 to $2.50 per gallon. However, she emphasized that the broader and more pressing issue remains the ongoing impact of climate change on the fishing trade.
“Climate change is a real thing for the fishers,” she stated. “While we’re trying to cushion the blow with measures such as FADs, the bigger issue of climate warming is severely affecting their livelihood—really affecting their catch.”
Toussaint-Charlery cited multiple environmental challenges, including the proliferation of sargassum seaweed and Saharan dust, which she said hamper visibility and disrupt fishing activities.
“We’ve seen significantly fewer fishing expeditions,” she noted, “which is impacting the bottom line of the fishers.”
Adding to these difficulties, the senator raised alarm over the exploitation of the sector by individuals engaged in illegal activities.
“We’ve heard of instances where people involved in the illicit trade of drugs and other commodities disguise themselves as fishermen,” she said. “That does not augur well for authentic fishers and must be closely monitored.”
She stressed the importance of strong oversight and accurate data collection to support legitimate operators.
“The records and the way the data is collected lend legitimacy to those who are genuinely engaged in the trade,” she said. “What it really requires is continued vigilance from both the fishers and the authorities.”
While Senator Toussaint-Charlery acknowledged that eliminating illegal activity entirely may not be feasible, she emphasized the need for constant vigilance and enforcement of existing laws.
“We can’t totally do away with it,” she said. “But we can keep our eyes open, keep our ears to the ground, and continue to use the laws and regulations to protect the fishers—to ensure the sector remains protected, because it’s a very vital sector.”
