Minister of Fisheries, Conroy Huggins, says St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ fisheries sector is set for a major transformation.
Huggins recently visited fisheries centres from Owia to Chateaubelair, as well as Calliaqua, Lowman’s Bay, Barrouallie and the Kingstown Fish Market. He described conditions as poor but said projects are already planned to upgrade facilities between 2026 and 2028, including full redevelopment in Chateaubelair and major improvements in Owia under the Volcano Emergency Recovery Project.
The minister said the government is pushing a new blue economy initiative to boost fisheries’ contribution to GDP and generate long-term wealth for fishers. Stakeholder engagement is a key part of the plan, with more than 75 fishers, vendors and suppliers attending a recent consultation in Kingstown.
Huggins also confirmed that funds were recently distributed to fishers affected by Hurricane Beryl who had not previously received assistance, allowing many to participate in the VAT-free shopping period. He urged anyone still waiting for support to contact the Ministry of Fisheries for verification.
