Fullarton fishermen upset as Kings Wharf work continues

RADHICA DE SILVA

Senior Multimedia Reporter

radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt

Fullarton fishermen are urging authorities to ensure that barges transporting material from Isolet Bay to Kings Wharf, San Fernando, do not damage their fishing gear. The barges are carrying tonnes of sand from Isolet Bay along the southern coast and depositing it in the Gulf of Paria off Kings Wharf.

The San Fernando redevelopment project plans to reclaim 3.8 hectares of land outside the Kings Wharf fish market. 

Fullarton resident Christina Ramdass told Guardian Media that fishermen have already lost their nets due to the barges’ activities. 

“Before they were passing around the main fishing zone but now they are passing up and down from Columbus Bay to the Wharf and they are not caring that the fishermen’s nets are there,” Ramdass said.

She continued, “This happening for two weeks now and they coming from Galfar. They nearly bounce down one of the boats, They mash up a boat sein two times and last night they mash up another sein. The fishermen had to run from the boat,.”

The fishermen are scheduled to meet with MP for Point Fortin, Kennedy Richards Jr., on Monday to discuss the issue. Between 150,000 and 200,000 cubic meters of sand are being dredged from an area off Islote Bay along Trinidad’s southwestern coast.

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