A number of fishers have been supplied with VHF radios, made possible through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

More than 200 radios were donated by the FAO and the fisheries division has so far issued 81 of them to fishers.

On March 3, a training and handing over ceremony was held at the conference room of the fisheries department for recipients.

Speaking at the session, chief fisheries officer, Jennifer Cruickshank-Howard said the provision of the radios was part of efforts to promote safety at sea. This was also part of a project under the FAO’s volcano relief response.

“Use the radio, take care of them, and ask your other fishers to get involved in the programme”, Cruickshank-Howard encouraged the fishers.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Saboto Ceasar said there will be significant training for fishers in the use of the device as the fisheries sector becomes more modernized, with the safety of fishers as a priority.

“As we seek to attract more young persons into the fisheries sector, the issue of the technology and access to cutting edge technology is going to be one of first importance…we are very concerned about the safety of our fisherfolk,” Caesar stressed.(API).