The fishing industry fears that limited ice-making capacity could jeopardise the quality and freshness of catches when the peak fishing season begins in November, Barbados TODAY has learned.
The industry has not been operating at full capacity with respect to the ice machines, which are at the heart of ensuring the freshness and quality of seafood, said Moonesh Dharampaul, president of the Black Fin Fleet Cooperative Society.
“Ice is always a challenge for us. We are still on limited capacity because they are trying to repair the ice machine. There are two machines that operate in Bridgetown. One is up and running, the other is under maintenance and they are trying to make sure that they can reach capacity.
“Our concern is that going into the new fishing season, we wouldn’t have to stop the machine during the fishing season. So, we are hoping that the maintenance and the upkeep, and any spare parts and so on, would have been ordered by now as we get ready to go into the new fishing season.”
The fisherfolk spokesman also expressed “deep” concern about the upfront costs of fishing, including the purchase of ice.
“If the upfront cost of fishing is so high such as insurance, such as the cost of getting ice when you can’t get it and you have to go to Grenada, the cost of getting bait; depending on the type of fishing, if you don’t have tun boxes, then the upfront cost becomes too heavy for you to go fishing.”
Dharampaul complained that fishermen did not receive any state subsidies for diesel either.
“We may get a VAT free, but we don’t get that [diesel subsidy]. We have been trying to see if the government would remove the 40 cents from the diesel so that the fellows could top up; but that remains a challenge.”
Ice machines on board boats provide optimal preservation conditions, allowing fishers to keep fish at a safe temperature as soon as it is caught and ensuring maximum freshness until they return to port.
The machines also save time and money while increasing productivity: fishermen no longer need to make frequent stops to buy ice.
They also help to ensure better quality fish: a stable, low temperature ensures that fish retains its authentic texture and taste, which is essential to satisfy customers or for personal consumption.
Respect for the environment is also a major benefit: opting for an ice machine means less plastic waste and a reduced carbon footprint compared with buying bags of ice.
The critical importance of ice machines is also being framed against the backdrop of salmonella poisoning, which poses a risk to consumers.
Public health authorities warn that fish can be contaminated with salmonella bacteria through poor handling practices, processing and storage.
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