"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
A new boat funded by the European Union will help protect Virgin Islands waters from illegal fishing, pollution and other damaging practices, government announced. The Vigilate, which was christened during …
Continue reading “EU funds boat to help protect Virgin Islands waters”
Blue marlin and other gamefish took the bait in a big way over the weekend during the first three-day leg of this year’s Scrub Island Invitational Billfish Tournament. For $5,000 …
Sportfishers caught and released three blue marlin and hooked several more last week in the inaugural North Drop 2024 Open tournament. Though as many as 18 boats were initially expected, …
At least 18 boats have already signed up for the inaugural North Drop Open, a catch-and-release blue marlin tournament to be held Aug. 8-10 out of the Virgin Gorda Yacht …
Continue reading “New blue marlin tourney set for next week”
In recent years, opposition member Stacy Mather has been hearing about evidence that Chinese boats may be fishing illegally in the territory’s waters, he said this month in the House …
Continue reading “Concerns raised about Chinese fishing boats”
Spearfishing is currently prohibited in the Virgin Islands, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley expects that to change when a new fisheries law and regulations take effect later this year, …
Continue reading “Spearfishing illegal for now, premier says”
During more than half a century of working as a fisherman in Jamaica, Richard Osbourne has seen the industry steadily decline in the face of pollution, climate change, overfishing and …
Continue reading “Seaweed piles on problems for Jamaica fishers”
A hanging scale was the centre of the Virgin Islands’ sportfishing world Saturday as nine boats motored into the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour with their catches just before 5 p.m. …
Continue reading “Tourney sees strong turnout, smaller fish”
More than four years ago, the United Nations Development Programme worked with government to draft a “Blue Economy Roadmap” that officials said would help the territory make the most of …
In April 2022, the House of Assembly passed a comprehensive law designed to reform the management of farming and fishing in the territory with measures including a new statutory body …
Continue reading “Farming, fishing law is still not enacted”
Oversight of fishing and farming in the territory may be seeing major changes soon following Governor John Rankin’s recent approval of the Food Security and Sustainability Act, 2022. The House …
A boat full of volunteers recently travelled from Tortola to the south side of Cooper Island, where they combed the sargassum-covered rocky shore for waste that had washed up on …
Continue reading “Ghost busters: Discarded tackle cleaned up”
Starting Sunday, Farmers and Fishers Week will celebrate a sustainable, adaptable future in food production, according to Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley. The event marks the resumption of a …
Continue reading “Farmers and Fishers Week to kick off Sunday”
The spotlight has turned to more sustainable practices as the Virgin Islands looks to create a more self-sufficient food industry, and an early iteration of proposed legislation is designed to …
Continue reading “Bill would reform farming and fishing industries”
As the Virgin Islands hopes to scale up its fishing and farming sectors with the ultimate goal of becoming more self-sufficient, participants in a virtual forum last week said it …
Continue reading “Leaders push to boost local food production”
During a normal tourism season on Anegada, Liston Potter’s restaurant Potter’s by the Sea is a popular hangout. But like other hospitality businesses, it was shut down by the coronavirus …
Continue reading “Sister islands hard hit by tourism closure”
Government recently sent out a call for farmers and fishers in the territory, and they answered, according to Education, Culture Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley. …
Continue reading “$2 million fishing, farming stimulus moves ahead”
Amid concern about the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Cabinet on Friday, March 20, approved a $2 million economic stimulus package for fishing and farming in the Virgin …
Continue reading “Government to inject $2 million into farming, fishing”
Following approval from Cabinet, the building that used to house the BVI Fishing Complex at Baughers Bay will be transferred to the BVI Ports Authority, as officials continue their search …
Continue reading “Search underway for fisheries complex site”
Kudos to the government for working with the United Nations Development Programme to explore the possibilities offered by the so-called “blue economy.” At a time when financial services and tourism …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: ‘Blue economy’ has promise in the Virgin Islands”
Agriculture Week, which has not been celebrated in the Virgin Islands since 2015, will return to the territory soon, according to Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Dr. …
Last month Cabinet approved a $400,000 settlement offer from Nagico Insurances for the damages Hurricane Irma caused to the BVI Fishing Complex, which hasn’t been operational since the storm. Government’s …
Continue reading “$400k insurance settlement for Fishing Complex approved”
This article originally appeared in the Beacon’s Sept. 6 “Irma Anniversary” edition. For the some 300 people living on Anegada, day-to-day life is punctuated by boat arrivals. Road Town-based passenger ferries pull …
Continue reading “Anegada “pushing for bigger and better things” after Irma”
