President of the National Fisherfolk Organization Winsbert Harry is urging Fishers in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to return to work. The call follows a critical donation of equipment aimed at revitalizing the fisheries sector after Hurricane Beryl.

Harry was speaking during the recent handing over ceremony at the fisheries conference room in Kingstown.

The donation, valued at 100 thousand US dollars, was made by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), with funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Government of Canada.

This support has been extended to vulnerable fishers and stakeholders along the fisheries value chain.

They include fish cleaners, vendors, and sea moss farmers, are expected to benefit from the distribution of fishing gear and tools, small boat repairs, post-harvest processing, storage, and other essential livelihood tools.

Harry expressed gratitude to the UNFAO for the donation adding that the assistance would benefit fishers in the mainland as well as in the Grenadines.

He encouraged fishers to take advantage of the support to restore their livelihoods.

"I want to encourage most fishers, I know that we all were affected by Hurricane Beryl in different ways and we have different challenges. With these equipment we now are going to put you to work and put you to fish. We need fish, we know that there is a shortage in fish, and we need the Fishers to go back out to fish, and this is why I really appreciate the FAO is on board for fisherfolk to go back, this is one of the most production season which is called the Dolphin Season and the Red Fish Season. So, Fishers the reality is here now, you will be getting your ice boxes, you will be getting diving glass, you will be getting hooks, this is not only for fishers on mainland."

SOURCE: National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio)