The Anguilla Government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry are studying a proposal for the establishment of a fish processing project incorporating the participation of all the fishermen of the island.

Fisheries meeting in progress

The proposal has been made by Gerald C. Knecht, President of the North Atlantic [Fishing Company] Inc. of Portland, Maine. He is a leading purchaser of fish, in South and Central America and other parts of the world, for the US market and is now turning his attention to Anguilla as a possible source.

Chamber Officials

He first met with the President of the Chamber, John Benjamin, Vice President, Dr Louis Bardfield and Executive Director, Calvin Bartlett. His other meetings were with Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming, Minister of Finance Victor Banks and Permanent Secretary, Economic Development, Industry and Commerce, Marcel Fahie and a separate meeting with the Director and Deputy Director of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Roland Hodge and Othlyn Vanterpool respectively and with a small group of fishermen.

According to Mr. Bartlett, while the input of the Government was an important factor in the establishment of the proposed private sector fish processing project, it was recognised that the input of the fishermen was even more essential.

Dr.Bardfield, described as the driving force behind the initiative, was asked by The Anguillian what were his thoughts about the proposal. “I see it as a blessing for Anguilla. We have no light industry …and I think the island needs an initial boost to get it started. I think so far we have the cooperation of the Chamber. Hopefully we are going to have the cooperation of the Government and next the cooperation of the people and the fishermen. It would be great for Anguilla. We can’t totally rely on tourism. We need secondary sources of income on the island.”
Commenting on the proposal, Mr. Knecht said he had done similar projects in other countries. He is primarily interested in the pelagic species of fish which include tuna, sword fish, shark as well as snapper and grouper and other fish closer to shore.
The meeting with fishermen at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on January 9 was disappointing as only about eight turned up. It is estimated that there may be some four hundred fishermen on the island, but with only a few involved in deep-sea fishing. That meeting was addressed by Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Knecht and Dr. Bardfield. Several ways in which the project could be developed were discussed, among them being that the Anguillian fishermen could not only be suppliers of the fish but shareholders in the company in which there would also be US investors.
There was a general consensus among the fishermen that the proposed project was a good one – mainly as it related to finding a market for their fresh, frozen and processed fish. They were of the view that if such a project were to be developed it would attract the ready participation of all their colleagues in the fishing industry. It was noted that the Fish Market at the Water Swamp was an established source of fish and that it could be an important link in the processing company and export market.
Mr. Knecht advised the fishermen that such a project required much time, careful and detailed planning. He undertook to prepare a proposal for the Government and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry before leaving the island. His parting words to the Anguillian fishermen were: “You have the supply. I need your fish.”

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