Dennery Fishers Receive Safety Equipment Empowering Safer Seas, One Vessel at a Time

The advancement of safeguarding the livelihoods of fisherfolk by enhancing maritime safety and resilience, beginning with the distribution of essential safety equipment to licensed boat owners in Dennery.

In a significant step toward enhancing maritime safety and building resilience in Saint Lucia’s fisheries sector, the Department of Fisheries has distributed 70 Safety Equipment Grab Bags to licensed and registered boat owners in Dennery. This effort forms part of the Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) under the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project.

Branded under the tagline “Empowering Safer Seas, One Vessel at a Time,” the initiative underscores the Ministry’s commitment to equipping fisherfolk with critical tools to support safe and sustainable livelihoods, especially in preparation for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

Each Grab Bag contains essential emergency items designed to improve the safety and preparedness of fishers while at sea. In addition to the distribution, 14 Dennery-based fishers successfully completed the Boat Masters Training, further bolstering their qualifications and operational knowledge. These fishers were also presented with personal life jackets alongside their safety kits. UBEC Project Manager, Shermaine Clauzel, emphasized the importance of the safety grab bags in helping fisherfolk build resilience in their livelihoods and communities.

“So today, 70 grab bags will be handed over to boat owners and captains within this community, which is recognized as a major landing site on our island.  Through an assessment of needs of fisherfloks it was determined that safety is an important aspect which highlights the necessity of this rather dangerous livelihood pursuit, we know that the ocean can often be very unforgiving. So UBEC is happy to have also strengthened this by delivering a boat masters training program which provided instruction on safety at sea techniques and practices including basic navigation radio communication to name a few.”

This distribution marks the beginning of a nationwide rollout. Chief Fisheries Officer, Sarita Williams-Peter, noted that during the month of June, licensed boat owners in other fishing communities across Saint Lucia will receive similar Safety Equipment Grab Bags as part of a broader national effort to prepare for the hurricane season and promote long-term sustainability in the sector.

“The gear up for life safety equipment for fisherfolk distribution tour, with the theme Empowering Safer Seas, One Vessel at a Time, is more than just about handing out safety gear but its about equipping you with the tools and the support to protect your self, your crews and your communities everytime you head out to sea. So for the month of june the department of fisheries will be conducting a nation wide hand over of these grab bags containing safety equipment as well as life jackets for crew members of anybody who completed the boat masters course ”

The CERC-UBEC initiative demonstrates a proactive approach to disaster risk management and sustainable fisheries development, ensuring that Saint Lucia’s fishers are better prepared to face emergencies at sea.